Vagueness and Imprecision: Empirical Foundations

Abstract

Vagueness is a pervasive feature of natural language, which has been studied from a range of perspectives. This review focuses on recent empirical insights into vagueness that have come out of the field of linguistic semantics, as well as the theoretical developments that these have prompted. Topics covered include the distinction between vagueness and imprecision, or what I refer to as Type 1 and Type 2 vagueness; the complex manifestations of vagueness in the adjectival domain; and recent experimental findings regarding “ordinary” speakers’ use and interpretation of vague language. Also briefly discussed is the broader question of why language is vague.