Ambiguity_JIMERA Powerpoint & Performance Task.pptx

ambiguity

1. AMBIGUITY MARYNOL M. JIMERA

2. What is Ambiguity? A word, phrase, or sentence is ambiguous if it has more than one meaning, in other words ambiguity has more than one interpretation

3. Light vs Light Light=not heavy | Light=not dark

4. Kinds of ambiguity LEXICAL HOMOPHONES AND HOMONYMS POLYSEMY METONYMY STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY

5. LEXICAL ambiguity If a word has more than one interpretation and this same piece of information may be ambiguous in one context and unambiguous in another. FOR EXAMPLE: "Bank“ A financial institution (e.g., "I need to go to the bank to withdraw money.") The side of a river (e.g., "We walked along the river bank.") "Bat“ A flying mammal (e.g., "The bat flew out of the cave.") A piece of sports equipment (e.g., "He hit the ball with the bat.") "Bark“ The sound a dog makes (e.g., "The dog began to bark loudly.") The outer covering of a tree (e.g., "The bark of the tree was rough.")

6. LEXICAL ambiguity If a word has more than one interpretation and this same piece of information may be ambiguous in one context and unambiguous in another. FOR EXAMPLE: "Well“ In good health (e.g., "She feels well today.") A deep hole for water ("The villagers drew water from the well.") "Right“ A direction (e.g., "Turn right at the intersection.") Correct or true (e.g., "That answer is right.") "Tire“ A rubber covering of a wheel (e.g., "The car’s tire needs air.") To exhaust or fatigue (e.g., "The long run will tire me out.")

7. HOMOPHONES AND HOMONYMS When two or more different (written) forms have the same pronunciation, they are described as homophones . Common examples are bare / bear, meat / meet, flour / flower, pail / pale, right / write, sew / so and to / too / two. 

8. HOMOPHONES AND HOMONYMS We use the term homonyms when one form (written or spoken) has two or more unrelated meanings, as in these examples: bank ( of a river) – bank (financial institution) Bat (flying creature) – bat (used in sports) mole (on skin) – mole (small animal) pupil (at school) – pupil (in the eye) race (contest of speed) – race (ethnic group) 

9. HOMOPHONES AND HOMONYMS bank (of a river) – bank (financial institution) The temptation is to think that the two type of bank must be related in meaning. They are not. Homonyms are words that have separate histories and meanings, but have accidentally come to have exactly the same form. 

10. Polysemy When we encounter two or more words with the same form and related meanings , we have what is technically known as polysemy Polysemy can be defined as one form (written or spoken) having multiple meanings that are all related by extension .  Example the word head, used to refer to the object on top of your body, on top of a glass of beer, person at the top of a company or department and many other things, foot (of person, of bed, of mountain) or run (person does, water does, colours do). 

11. If we are not sure whether different uses of a single word are examples of homonymy or polysemy, we can check in a dictionary.  If the word has multiple meanings (i.e. it is polysemous), then there will be a single entry, with a numbered list of the different meanings of the word. If the two words are treated as homonyms, they will typically have two separate entries. 

12. Polysemy The words date (= a thing we eat) and date (= a point in time) are homonyms Date (= a point in time) is polysemous in terms of a particular day and month (= on a letter), an arranged meeting time (= an appointment) a social meeting (= with someone we like)

13. Metonymy A type of relationship based on a close connection in everyday experience, which can be based on: container-contents relation (bottle / water, can / juice) whole-part relation (car / wheels, house / roof) representative-symbol relationship (king / crown, the President / White House) Using one of these words to refer to the other is an example of metonymy.

14. metonymy It is our familiarity with metonymy that makes it possible for us to understand. He drank the whole bottle although it sounds absurd literally (He drank the liquid, not the glass object). We also accept The White House has announced… or Downing Street protested… without being puzzled that buildings appear to be talking.

15. metonymy Many examples of metonymy are highly conventionalized and easy to interpret. However, other examples depend on an ability to infer what the speaker has in mind. Examples include: Get your butt over here. The pen is mightier than the sword. The battlefield was silent. The crown will find an heir. Making sense of such expressions often depends on context, background knowledge and inference.  

16. STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY Occurs when a phrase or sentences has more than one basic structure so it produces more than one way to understand, even if the individual words of the expression are not lexically ambiguous FOR EXAMPLE: We should be discussing violence on TV. INTERPRETATIONS: We should be discussing violence on TV.  We should be discussing violence on TV.

17. STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY "The police arrested the man with the gun." Interpretation 1 : The police arrested a man who had a gun. Interpretation 2 : The police arrested a man using a gun. "I will meet you at the bank." Interpretation 1 : I will meet you at a financial institution. Interpretation 2 : I will meet you at the side of a river.

18. STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY "The chicken is ready to eat." Interpretation 1 : The chicken (as food) is prepared and ready for someone to eat it. Interpretation 2 : The chicken (as an animal) is ready to eat something. "I found a man on the hill with a telescope." Interpretation 1 : The man was on the hill, and he had a telescope. Interpretation 2 : The speaker found a man on the hill, using a telescope to look at the hill.

19. Significance of ambiguity in literature Ambiguity in literature is significant for several reasons: Encourages Multiple Interpretations : It invites readers to explore different meanings, making the text more engaging and thought-provoking. Reflects Human Complexity : Ambiguity mirrors the uncertainties of life, making stories feel more authentic and relatable. Enhances Themes : It deepens themes by leaving room for underlying meanings, encouraging critical thinking about issues like identity or morality. Fosters Emotional Engagement : Uncertainty or unresolved moments in a story can provoke strong emotional responses, keeping readers invested.

20. Significance of ambiguity in literature 5. Promotes Critical Thinking : Ambiguity challenges readers to actively interpret the text, enhancing intellectual engagement. 6. Creates Mystery and Tension : Ambiguous elements, like unclear motives or open endings, keep the story suspenseful and intriguing. 7 . Offers Authorial Freedom : It allows writers to explore complex ideas without providing definite answers, fostering creativity. 8. Challenges Fixed Meaning : Ambiguity questions the stability of meaning, encouraging readers to consider the fluidity of language and perception. In short, ambiguity enriches literature, making it more layered, engaging, and open to interpretation.

21. Ambiguity: quiz 1 . Which sentence is ambiguous? A. When the detective asks if the goods are stolen, the honest reply. B. When the detective asks if the goods are stolen, honest people reply. Correct Answer: a Explanation: Although context makes sentence a clear, reader might at first think that honest is an adjective.

22. Ambiguity: quiz 2 . Which sentence is ambiguous? A. She grabs her poles and proceeds to ski down the mountain. B. She grabs her poles and skis down the mountain. Correct Answer: B Explanation : In sentence b, skis could at first be read as a noun.

23. Ambiguity: quiz 3 . Which sentence is ambiguous? A. The insurance company receives many calls and claims that you submit your forms too late. B. The insurance company receives many calls and maintains that you submit your forms too late. Correct Answer: A Explanation : In sentence a, that you submit could at first be read as a modifier of a noun (claims) instead of as the object of a verb (claims).

24. Ambiguity: quiz 4 . Which sentence is ambiguous? A. The constituents told the representative that they had elected to open the private park to the public. B. The constituents told the elected representative to open the private park to the public. Correct Answer: A Explanation : In sentence a, it is unclear whether the constituents told their elected representative to open the private park to the public or whether they told the representative of their decision to open the private park to the public.

25. I: Study each of the following sentences carefully and underline the word that makes the sentence ambiguous. Then, give the two possible meanings for each. 1. She waited near the bank. Answer: bank: margin of a river/a financial institution 2. The boy looks backward. Answer: backward: a place that is behind/less developed 3. Jim took me to the court. Answer: take: give me a lift/take a legal action against me Ambiguity: Performance Task

26. I: Study each of the following sentences carefully and underline the word that makes the sentence ambiguous. Then, give the two possible meanings for each. 4. She broke the glasses Answer: glasses: drinking vessels/a pair of lenses in a frame 5. It must be a new record. Answer: record: a disc on which music is recorded/the best result especially in sport 6. I need a paper. Answer: A newspaper or a sheet of paper Ambiguity: Performance Task

27. II. Study each of the following utterances then, give the two possible interpretations for each. 1 . He is an English teacher. Either he teaches English or he is an English native speaker. Ambiguity: Performance Task

28. II. Study each of the following utterances carefully then, give the two possible interpretations for each. 2 . Visiting relatives can be boring. Either it is boring to visit relatives or relatives who visit are boring. Ambiguity: Performance Task

29. II. Study each of the following utterances carefully then, give the two possible interpretations for each. 3 . I saw her in the street. I saw her when I was in the street, or I saw her when she was in the street. Ambiguity: Performance Task

30. II. Study each of the following utterances carefully then, give the two possible interpretations for each. 4 . We talked about the party last night. Either we talked about the party which was held last night, or wetalked last night about the party. Ambiguity: Performance Task

31. II. Study each of the following utterances carefully then, give the two possible interpretations for each. 5 . Small boys and girls are easily frightened. Either small boys only and other girls, or small boys and small girls. Ambiguity: Performance Task