Glossary:Scope Ambiguity: Difference between revisions
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{{CreatedByStudents1213}}<br />Involved participants: [[User:Nicki| Nicki]], [[User:Marc_M| Marc M]], [[User:Leo| Leo]], [[User:Anna_Böcher| Anna Böcher]], [[User:Lorena| Lorena]] | |||
=Scope Ambiguity= | =Scope Ambiguity= | ||
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==Definition== | ==Definition== | ||
Scope ambiguities arise when the scope (scope: an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends) of a part - or parts - of a sentence is unclear. Quantifiers (words like 'every') and | Scope ambiguities arise when the scope (scope: an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends) of a part - or parts - of a sentence is unclear. Quantifiers (words like ''every''), negations and adverbial or adjectival modifiers often give rise to scope ambiguites. | ||
A sentence with a scope ambiguity need not be structurally ambiguous. | |||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
Every man loves a woman | 1. ''Every man loves a woman.'' | ||
Reading 1: For every man there is some woman that he loves <br/> | |||
Reading 2: Every man loves the same woman <br/> | |||
-> The different meanings are determined by which quantifier is given the widest scope. By giving 'every' the widest scope, reading 1 arises; by giving 'a' the widest scope, reading 2 arises. | |||
2. ''All that glitters is not gold.'' | |||
Reading 1: Everything that glitters is not made of gold; Conclusion: This rock glitters so it cannot be gold <br/> | |||
Reading 2: Not everything that glitters is gold; Conclusion: This rock glitters so it might be gold but it does not have to be. <br/> | |||
-> The different meanings are determined by the scope of the word not. By giving it a narrow scope ('not' only applies to ' gold'), reading 1 arises; by giving it a broad scope ('not' applies to 'All that glitters is gold'), reading 2 arises. | |||
==Related terms== | ==Related terms== | ||
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*[http://www2.let.uu.nl/Uil-OTS/Lexicon/|Structural Ambiguity in Utrecht University, Lexicon of Linguistics] | *[http://www2.let.uu.nl/Uil-OTS/Lexicon/|Structural Ambiguity in Utrecht University, Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
*[http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scope| Thesaurus entry on 'scope'] | *[http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scope| Thesaurus entry on 'scope'] | ||
*[http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/projects/milca/courses/comsem/html/node92.html|http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/projects/milca/courses/comsem/html/node92.html] | *[http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/projects/milca/courses/comsem/html/node92.html| http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/projects/milca/courses/comsem/html/node92.html] | ||
*[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/scopefal.html| http://www.fallacyfiles.org/scopefal.html] |
Latest revision as of 16:30, 11 April 2013
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The material on this page has been created as part of a seminar. It is still heavily under construction and we do not guarantee its correctness. If you have comments on this page or suggestions for improvement, please contact Manfred Sailer.
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The following material is an adapted form of material created by student participants of the project e-Learning Resources for Semantics (e-LRS).
Involved participants: Nicki, Marc M, Leo, Anna Böcher, Lorena
Scope Ambiguity
/skəʊp æmbigjʊɘti/
Definition
Scope ambiguities arise when the scope (scope: an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends) of a part - or parts - of a sentence is unclear. Quantifiers (words like every), negations and adverbial or adjectival modifiers often give rise to scope ambiguites.
A sentence with a scope ambiguity need not be structurally ambiguous.
Examples
1. Every man loves a woman.
Reading 1: For every man there is some woman that he loves
Reading 2: Every man loves the same woman
-> The different meanings are determined by which quantifier is given the widest scope. By giving 'every' the widest scope, reading 1 arises; by giving 'a' the widest scope, reading 2 arises.
2. All that glitters is not gold.
Reading 1: Everything that glitters is not made of gold; Conclusion: This rock glitters so it cannot be gold
Reading 2: Not everything that glitters is gold; Conclusion: This rock glitters so it might be gold but it does not have to be.
-> The different meanings are determined by the scope of the word not. By giving it a narrow scope ('not' only applies to ' gold'), reading 1 arises; by giving it a broad scope ('not' applies to 'All that glitters is gold'), reading 2 arises.
Related terms
References
- Bieswanger, Markus/Becker, Annette (2008): Introduction to English Linguistics. 2te aktual. Aufl. A Francke Verlag, Tübingen und Basel., p. 155/156.
- Ambiguity in Utrecht University, Lexicon of Linguistics
- Thesaurus entry on 'scope'
- http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/projects/milca/courses/comsem/html/node92.html
- http://www.fallacyfiles.org/scopefal.html