Abstract: Pragmatic vagueness is by no means vague in communication, for its communicative intention is always clear. Based on adaptation theory and relevance theory, a pragmacognitive model is established to analyze the generation and interpretation of pragmatic vagueness with reference to its use in business English correspondence. It is found that addressers tend to choose pragmatic vagueness to adapt to their communicative intention, which can be made mutually manifest via the ostensiveinferential process on the part of addressees.

Key words: pragmatic vagueness, adaptation theory, relevance theory, generation, interpretation, business English correspondence

摘要： 语用含糊在实际交际中并不含糊，其交际意图往往是明确的。从顺应论和关联理论的角度建立语用含糊生成与理解的认知语用模型，可以对商务英语信函中语用含糊的使用进行合理的阐释。说话人往往顺应其交际意图而选择使用语用含糊，而听话人通过明示—推理模式便可实现说话人语用含糊交际意图的互为显映。

关键词: 语用含糊, 顺应论, 关联理论, 生成, 理解, 商务英语信函