语言学歧义句

⑺ambiguity—referstothelinguisticphenomenathatconstituentsofthesentencehavemorethanonelexical/grammaticalinterpretations.Eg,①Wesawherduck.Shehasaduck/shewasducking②你在做什么？Whatareyoudoing?/whatisyourjob?①这个人谁也不认识？Nobodyknowsthisperson./thispersonknowsnobody②她是去年生的小孩。Shewasthechildbornlastyear./shegavebirthtoababylastyear.A.lexicalambiguity→referstotheambiguitywhichiscausedbythedifferentinterpretationofacertainwordinasentence.Eg,①Heislookingforglasses.Heislookingforspectacles./vesselsmadeofglassusedfordrinkingliquid②Shewasseatedbythegeneralmanager.Shewasofferedaseatbythegentleman./shewasseatedbythesideof/giveaplace③Therestofthepoliceisinsufficient.Theremainingpoliceis/therelaxationThecausesoflexicalambiguityare:a)polysemy①Thecriminallawyeriscoming.Thelawyerwhocommittedcrime/defendsforthecriminal②Mr.SmithisgoingtomarryJaneatthechurch.b)homonymy①Theboywasattractedbytheball/ball.②Showmeyourtable./table.Desk/chartc)differencesbetweenAmericanEnglishandBritishEnglisheg,Helivesonthesecondfloor.B.grammaticalambiguity→whichiscausedbythedifferentinterpretationofthesyntacticstructureofthesentence.Eg,①Thefatmanager`swifeisfondofprettyclothes.②Thepolicemanhitthemanwithastick.③Shegaveherbabypictures.→a)Shegavesomepicturestoherbaby.b)Shegavehersomepicturesdrawnforbaby.c)Shegavehersomepicturesofbaby.d)Shegavehersomepicturesdrawnbybaby.Sometypesofgrammaticalambiguity1)prepositionalphraseeg,①Johnwroteapoemonatombstone.②JohntelephonedMaryinhospital.2)pronouneg,①JohnsaidtoBillthathehadseenthewomanbefore.②Theparentsofthegirlswereashamedoftheirconducts.3)modalverbseg.Hemaycomeintotheroominfiveminutes.4)attributiveeg,①Heusedtoliveinabigbrickhouseatinfrontofthehill.②Thereisalsoatheatrenearthebusinesscenterwhichwascrowdedeverynight.5)Objectanditsrelevantelementseg,①TheycalledSusanawaitress.→askawaitresstoserveSusan/theysaidSusanwasawaitress/theyphonedSusanwhowasawaitress.②WefoundJohnanexperienceddoctor.6)Adverbialeg,①Thestudentswilldiscusstheirplantoholdapartyintheclassroom.②Themanagerpromisedtogiveabonustoeachemployeelater.themanagerpromisedtogiveabonustoeachemployeeatatimeinthefuture/themanagerlaterpromisedto7)non-infinitiveverbalphraseeg,①Icaughttheboysmokingacigarette.②Thedancinggirlinthehallusedtobehisgirlfriend.③Thedogistoohottoeat.1)`sgenitivecaseeg,①Weweredeeplymovedbythewoman`sstory.②Jane`slosshasnothingtodowithme.2)ClauseEg,①Tellmeifyouhavetime.②Maryaskedthemanwhoissmokingbythedoor.3)NegativewordEg,①Shewasnotlisteningallthetime.②Hedidnotleavehomebecausehewasafraidofhiswife.