Existing studies focus on the effectiveness of vague language (VL). This study offers a balanced account by highlighting the ineffectiveness of VL. Drawn from institutional data involving the interactions between Australian custom officers and passengers, this study finds that while VL was effective in most cases, it was challenged in 8 % of cases. The data reveals a correlation: the more severe a situation is, the more VL is challenged. Officers performed the most VL challenging when carrying out their institutional duties, and passengers challenged VL to clarify information. Half of the responses to the VL challenge produced the required precise information. Non-compliance occurred because of either no information being available (mostly by officers, non-purposive vagueness) or withholding information (mostly by passengers, purposive vagueness). VL serves both cooperative and competitive purposes depending on the needs of the speaker. It is a double-edged sword and can both facilitate and hinder the proper use of language. The implication is that the acceptance of VL is not universal, and it requires contextual suitability to avoid communication breakdowns.

现有研究集中在模糊语言（VL）的有效性上。这项研究通过强调VL的无效性来提供平衡的解释。从涉及澳大利亚海关官员与乘客之间互动的机构数据中得出的结果，该研究发现，虽然VL在大多数情况下有效，但在8％的情况下受到了挑战。数据揭示了一种相关性：情况越严重，对VL的挑战就越大。军官在执行机构职责时对VL的挑战最大，而旅客则向VL挑战以澄清信息。对VL的回应的一半挑战产生了所需的精确信息。发生不合规的原因是没有可用信息（主要是官员，非目的性含糊）或隐瞒信息（主要是乘客，有目的性含糊）。VL可以根据演讲者的需求实现合作和竞争目的。它是一把双刃剑，可以促进和阻碍正确使用语言。这意味着VL的接受不是普遍的，它需要上下文适应性来避免通信中断。