Ambiguity

Ambiguity

A.  What is ambiguity?

      Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Ambiguity able to be understood in more than one way : having more than one possible meaning, not expressed or understood clearly. Ambiguity occurs when a language element has more than one meaning.

      Ambiguity has 2 part, that is lexical ambiguity and the grammatical or structural ambiguity. If the ambiguity is in a single word it is lexical ambiguity. We can illustrate lexical ambiguity with an example from Sue Townsend's Secret Diary of Adrian Mole. Adrian displays a notice in school, advertising a gay society. When a teacher rebukes him, Adrian asks what is wrong with a club for people who want to be jolly or happy.

     If in a sentence or clause, it is grammatical or structural ambiguity. In this case, the structural ambiguity is not present to a reader who knows standard spelling, but might confuse a hearer, if the headline is spoken aloud. The absence of linking grammatical words (articles, conjunctions, prepositions) in headlines makes such ambiguity likely.

B.  Function of Ambiguity

  Ambiguity in literature serves the purpose of lending a deeper meaning to a literary work. By introducing ambiguity in their works, writers give liberty to the readers to use their imagination to explore meanings. This active participation of the readers involves them in the prose or poetry they read.

C.   Example of ambiguity

      1.  "I rode a black horse in red pajamas".

It is ambiguous to say I rode a black horse in red pajamas, because it may lead us to think the horse was wearing red pajamas. The sentence becomes clear when it is restructured Wearing red pajamas, I rode a black horse.

     2.   "John took off his trousers by the bank".

Same words with different meanings can cause ambiguity e.g. John took off his trousers by the bank. It is funny if we confuse one meaning of bank which is a building, to another meaning, being an edge of a river. Context usually resolves any ambiguity in such cases.

     3.   "A good life depends on a liver". Liver may be an organ or simply a living person.

     4.   "Foreigners are hunting dogs". It is unclear whether dogs were being hunted or foreigners are being spoken of as dogs.

     5.   "Each of us saw her duck". It is not clear whether the word duck refers to an action of ducking or a duck that is a bird.

     6.   "The passerby helps dog bite victim". Is the passerby helping a dog bite someone? Or is he helping a person bitten by a dog? Its not clear.

     7.   "I read the book". This sentence alone could refer to the present or the past, as the word read in English is spelled the same way in the present and past tenses. However, if we change the sentence toI read the book when I was 7, that clears up the ambiguity and places the context in the past tense.

Referrences

http://literarydevices.net/ambiguity/

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambiguous

http://www.yourdictionary.com/ambiguity

http://www.literarydevices.com/ambiguity/

https://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/lang/semantics.htm#9

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Denotation, Connotation and Implication

Denotation, Connotation and Implication

A.       Denotation.

Denotation is the dictionary meaning of a word. The denotation of a word or phrase is its explicit or direct meaning. Another way to think of it is as the associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of personal experience.

B.       Connotation.

Connotation is the emotional overtones or nuances that the word is understood to have, but which don't necessarily show up in the dictionary. The connotation of a word or phrase is the associated or secondary meaning; it can be something suggested or implied by a word or thing, rather than being explicitly named or described. Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word.

C.       Implication.

This is meaning which a speaker or writer intends but does not communicate directly. Where a listener is able to deduce or infer the intended meaning from what has been uttered, this is known as (conversational) implicature.

D.       Example

·      Example of Denotation and Connotation : For example, the words home and house have similar denotations or primary meanings: a home is “a shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household,” and a house is “a building in which people live.” However, for many, these terms carry different associations or secondary meanings, also known as connotations. Many people would agree that home connotes a sense of belonging and comfort, whereas house conveys little more than a structure.

·          Example of Implication : “A bus!” → Implicature (implicit meaning): “We must run.”

References :

https://www.csun.edu/~bashforth/098_PDF/06Sep15Connotation_Denotation.pdf

http://blog.dictionary.com/denotation-and-connotation/

https://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/lang/semantics.htm#6

http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/explain-difference-between-denotation-connotation-114729

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Euphemism

Euphemism

 

 

Language users at all times evade using words and vocabularies which are uncomfortable, unsuitable or awkward to them or to whom they are communicating. This repressing of language occurs primarily instinctively through applying euphemistic expressions. Euphemisms are often used by talkers of diverse languages to moderate the impact of notions with the probable to cause felony and social discontentment. Euphemisms protect talkers from undesired emotional provocation. Anxiety, humiliation, and hatred are three principal factors inspiring the use of euphemisms.

1.      What is Euphemism?

A Euphemism is a polite inoffensive expression words or phrases replaced for one considered offensive or hurtful that contrarily might be considered bitter, blunt or unpleasant to hear. In short, the term euphemism refers to courteous, unintended expressions which is the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression that replace words and phrases considered harsh and disrespectful or which suggest something unpleasant. When the aim is not to offend or hurt someone with honest intentions. 

Possibly there is no other word in English for which there are more euphemisms than for the verb “to die.” When someone dies, we say he passed away, passed on or simply passed. Or he is in a better place now, gone on to his heavenly reward or as the doctor may have said just as the patient breathed his last breath. “She expired.”

Lets consider a few more  

Examples:

• Collateral damage instead of accidental deaths
• Use the rest room instead of go to the bathroom
• Between jobs instead of unemployed
• Domestic engineer instead of maid

2.      Types of Euphemisms

To Soften an Expression - Some euphemisms are used to make a blunt or obnoxious truth seem less hard.

Examples:

• Passed away instead of died
• Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
• Relocation center instead of prison camp
• Letting someone go instead of firing someone
• On the streets instead of homeless

Euphemisms to be Polite - Some euphemisms are used to take the place of words or phrases one might not want to say in polite circle.

Examples:

• Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
• Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
• Vertically-challenged instead of short
• Economical with the truth instead of liar
• Between jobs instead of unemployed

Euphemisms to be Impolite - euphemisms are intentionally a callous or insensitive way of saying something. These euphemisms are usually used when being sarcastic or trying to make light of a serious subject or make it seem less serious.

Example:

• Bit the dust instead of died
• Blow chunks instead of vomited
• Bit the farm instead of died

3.      Examples of Euphemisms

Euphemism is frequently used in everyday life. Let us look at some common euphemism examples:

• Retarded - mentally challenged
• Blind - Visually challenged
• Crippled - Differently abled
• Bald - follicularly challenged
• Poor - economically marginalized
• Fat - gravitationally challenged, Overweight
• Lazy - motivationally deficient
• beggar - panhandler, homeless person
• coffin - casket
• old age - golden age, golden years
• criminal (adj) - illegal
• confinement - detention
• lawyer - attorney
• sick - indisposed, ill, under the weather
• toilet - john, WC, men's room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory

Euphemism in sentences:

• He is always tired and emotional (drunk). He is a special child (disabled or retarded).
• You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).
• Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant).
• We do not hire mentally challenged (stupid) people.
• The individual was accused of appropriating funds.
• Joey isn’t broke, he is having temporary negative cash flow.
• Sam isn't buying a used car, he is purchasing a pre-enjoyed or pre-loved vehicle.
• Dian's supervisor laid him off because he was unmotivated.
• Politicians don't commit crimes, they 'make mistakes.'
• I don't care if you keep smoking, you'll be the one pushing up the daisies at the age of 40, not me!
• Putting stray dogs to sleep is the most humane thing to do.

Lets consider Euphemisms for death and dying as an example:

a race well run	definitely done dancing	in a better place	feeling no pain	go west
departed	Finished	at room temperature	get a one-way ticket	out of his/her misery
cross the bar	asleep	join the majority	bite the dust	kick the bucket
living-impaired	resting in peace	check out	pass away	no longer with us
meet his/her maker	wearing a toe tag	yield up the ghost	kick the oxygen habit	pushing up the daisies
six feet under	with the angels	terminated	call home	final curtain call

4.      Function of Euphemism

Euphemism helps writers to convey those ideas which have become a social taboo and are too embarrassing to mention directly. Writers skillfully choose appropriate words to refer to and discuss a subject indirectly which otherwise are not published due to strict social censorship e.g. religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, death etc. Thus, euphemism is a useful tool that allows writers to write figuratively about the libelous issues.

http://english.tutorvista.com/literary-response/euphemism.html#what-is-euphemism?

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