Vague language: A critical reading

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i10.33309

Keywords:

Vague language; Vagueness; Linguist; Discourse analysis; Ambiguous language; VL.

Abstract

Vague language is observed in language elements that make the meaning unclear. In this pragma-linguistic paper, the authors aim to review the different proposed theories and definitions of vague language that were suggested in the middle of the past century. Through discourse analysis of vague usage, authors justify politeness in communication, gender, culture, press releases, and education. Authors found that there is dissatisfaction among speakers with describing the terminologies and possible meanings of a text. Another promising finding is that the vague language creates controversial semantics and pragmatics discussions among discourse genre specialists. The listener's comprehension of quantifiers and linguistic approximators is limited to an exact number of vague words; thus, speakers are strongly recommended to avoid using vagueness in their speeches.  

Author Biographies

Islam Asim Ismail, The English and Foreign Languages University

Ph. D. researcher in English Language Education. Ismail does research in writing mistakes, learning during COVID-19, integration technology in education, curriculum development, and honing teachers' teaching quality in ESL classrooms.

Tahani R. K. Bsharat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

Ph. D. Researcher pursuing a Ph. D. at Faculty of Major Language Studies, Universiti Sains Islam, Malaysia. Bsharat’s research interest are learning pedagogy, education curriculum, development teaching experience pedagogy, collaborative learning, educational evaluation, and e-learning teaching materials.

Dana Amirbayeva, The English and Foreign Languages University

Ph.D. scholar in English Language Education at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. Amirbayeva has published several scientific papers in Kazakh, Russian and English languages. Amirbayeva research interests include vocabulary teaching techniques, Legal language, ESP and EAP.

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Published

11/08/2022

How to Cite

ISMAIL, I. A.; BSHARAT, T. R. K.; AMIRBAYEVA, D. Vague language: A critical reading . Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 11, n. 10, p. e587111033309, 2022. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v11i10.33309. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/33309. Acesso em: 19 apr. 2024.

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