On the optimality of vagueness: “around”, “between” and the Gricean maxims

Why is ordinary language vague? We argue that in contexts which a cooperative speaker not perfectly informed about the world, use of vague expressions can offer an optimal tradeoff between truthfulness (Gricean Quality) and informativeness Quantity). Focusing on approximation such as “around”, are semantically vague, we show they allow to convey indirect probabilistic information, way give listener more accurate representation information available than any precise expression would (intervals form “between”). That is, sentences be informative their counterparts. treatment interpretation model for “around”-statements within Rational Speech Act (RSA) framework. In our account shape speaker’s distribution matters ways predicted by Lexical Uncertainty standardly used RSA framework predicates. approach draw further lessons concerning semantic flexibility irreducibility meanings.