Ambiguity

            What is ambiguity? Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or sentence that has doubtfulness of meaning and makes people understood in two or more sense. Ambiguity is important and it is worth examining what the phenomenon is and how it differs and relates to similar phenomena.

            There are two types of ambiguity:

1.      Lexical ambiguity

Lexical ambiguity is a common problem. Bear, time, and light are lexically ambiguous. Why it can be ambiguous? Look at the example.

The word “time” as noun, verb, and adjective has different meaning.

Noun : Time is money.

Verb : Time me on the last lap.

Adjective : Time travel is not likely in my life time.

2.      Structural ambiguity

Structural ambiguity is also common problem. For example, “Tibetan history teacher”, it can be structural ambiguity because can be represented in two structurally different ways. “Tibetan history teacher” can be ‘[Tibetan history] teacher’ and ‘Tibetan [history teacher]’.

            How do we do to avoid ambiguity? There are some tips to avoid ambiguity.

1.      Ensure that it is clear which noun each pronoun replaces.

2.      Add extra punctuation if it helps to clarify your meaning.

3.      Write longer or shorter sentences if it makes things clearly.

4.      Rearrange the order of your words if it sounds confusing.

5.      Aim for a balanced mixture of nouns and pronouns.

References :

http://online.sfsu.edu/kbach/ambguity.html

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ambiguity/