Abstract: In view of the lacking knowledge of vague language among English majors, the thesis deals with one of the most popular American situation comedy Friends and chooses several classical dialogues in it to analyze. By summing up the vague language and analyzing the functions depending on the concrete context, the result shows that compared with the other aspects of vague language, such as the phonetics or semantics, the pragmatic function is more important and commonly used. In order to show English majors a clear knowledge of the pragmatic function of vague language, this thesis aims to analyze and study this kind of function in daily use, which can help English majors make full use of it and comprehend the arts of communication. 

Key words: Friends; English majors; vague language; pragmatic functions

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Literature Review...2

2.1 Vague Language

2.2. Pragmatics

2.3. A Brief State of Pragmatic Function of Vague Language

3. Introduction and Research Significance of Friends8

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Research Significance 

4. An Overview of Vague Language in Friends..8

  4.1 Appellation

  4.2 Numeral and Quantifier

  4.3 Idiom

  4.4 Others

5. Pragmatic Functions of Vague Language in Friends.11

5.1 Clarification of the Pragmatic Function of Vague Language

5.2 Factors Concerning the Pragmatic Functions of Vague Language

6. Conclusion..15

Bibliography...16

Acknowledgements ...17