模糊语 Pragmatic Vagueness.pptVIP

Pragmatic Vagueness Pragmatic Vagueness Pragmatic vagueness deals with meaning indeterminacy of language in its production and interpretation To be or not to be, that is a question. Part I Mori(1984)what is the border-line between man’s head and face? Classification of Vagueness in Pragmatics 1. Fuzzy Continuum The extension of border-line is ill-defined or fuzzified between truth and falsity of a proposition Ontological fuzziness Taxonomic Category The elusive alternatives of hyponymy Vague associations derived from hypnnymy I want a fruit. Nomenclative Evaluation Uncertainty of the speaker in his/her subjective evaluation of a proposition She is a beauty. Speaker’s subjective evaluation Vagueness of abstract concept Lie and truth I’m going by the candy store Mary: Valentino’s been sick for the past two weeks Kathy: I’m sick. It’s a terrific party. Vagueness of relative concept A small elephant A big ant 三思而行 九牛一毛 七手八脚 半斤八两 一曝十寒 Under preciseness there is vagueness; and on vagueness preciseness depends Part II  LITERAL TALK LOOSE TALK Loose talk Non-metaphorical use appoximation fuzziness generality ambiguity ambinalence Metaphorical use metaphor meiosis irony hyperbole * *