ExCh1 Ambiguity 1a-b: Difference between revisions

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Example sentence: ''Pat didn't know a guest at the party.''  
Example sentence: ''Pat didn't know a guest at the party.''  


Yes, your answer is correct!
Sorry, your answer is only partially correct.


This is a structural ambiguity.  
You might argue that the preposition phrase ''at the party'' could attach to the noun ''guest'', to the verb phrase ''know a guest'', or to the entire sentence. In each case, the truth conditions of the sentence are the same.  


The two readings are:
There is, however, another type of ambiguity in the sentence which leads to readings with distinct truth conditions. Try to find this ambiguity.
Reading 1: Not > Some
:: (a) ''Pat knew no guest at the party.''
::More formally: ''It is not the case that there was a guest at the party that Pat knew.''


Reading 2: Some > Not
For help, check the [[Types of ambiguity|explanations]].
:: (b) ''There was one guest at the party Pat didn't know.''<br />
:: More formally: ''There was a guest at that party such that it is not the case that Pat knew this guest.''
 
 
Follow the link to get more [[Types of ambiguity|explanations]].


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Latest revision as of 06:02, 28 September 2012

Example sentence: Pat didn't know a guest at the party.

Sorry, your answer is only partially correct.

You might argue that the preposition phrase at the party could attach to the noun guest, to the verb phrase know a guest, or to the entire sentence. In each case, the truth conditions of the sentence are the same.

There is, however, another type of ambiguity in the sentence which leads to readings with distinct truth conditions. Try to find this ambiguity.

For help, check the explanations.

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