AMBIGUITY
Ambiguity Definition
Ambiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one
meaning.
Ambiguous words or statements lead to vagueness and confusion, and shape
the basis for instances of unintentional humor. For
instance, 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.”
Similarly, 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.
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.
Common Ambiguity Examples
Below are some common examples of ambiguity:
- A good life depends on a liver – Liver may be an organ or simply a living person.
- Foreigners are hunting dogs – It is unclear whether dogs were being hunted or foreigners are being spoken of as dogs.
- 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.
- The passerby helps dog bite victim – Is the passerby helping a dog bite someone? Or is he helping a person bitten by a dog? It’s not clear.
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