Abstract: Starting from the definition of vagueness, this paper first reviews some relevant academic studies and standpoints in vague language. Then, the paper tries to make a classification of vagueness based on abundant information of both linguistic and diplomacy. The paper studies the different forms of vagueness in diplomatic language in terms of words, sentences, and passages so as to sum up a few of strategies that how vagueness is used in diplomatic language. The results show that once vagueness is appropriately used in diplomatic language, it may achieve the aims of making the expressions more concise and polite, self-protecting, avoiding responsibilities as well as improving the harmonious development of diplomatic relations and activities.
Key Words: vagueness; diplomatic language; forms of vagueness; strategies
摘要：本文从模糊的定义出发，介绍语言模糊性的相关研究并对语言的 模糊性进行分类；从词汇，句子，篇章三个层次研究外交辞令的模糊性 并从中总结出在外交辞令中使用模糊语言的策略。本文研究结果表明， 如在外交辞令中恰当使用模糊语言，可使外交辞令表达更为简洁，语气 更为礼貌，甚至能保护自身以及逃避责任，并促进外交关系以及外交活 动的和谐发展。
关键词：模糊语；外交辞令；模糊语形式；模糊策略
