Glossary:Scope Ambiguity: Difference between revisions

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{{MaterialUnderConstruction}}
{{MaterialUnderConstruction}}
{{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=


/ æmbigjʊɘti/
/skəʊp æmbigjʊɘti/


==Definition==
==Definition==
Scope ambiguities arise when the scope of a part - or parts - of a sentence is unclear. Quantifiers (words like 'every') and negations often give rise to scope ambiguites.
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==
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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*Bieswanger, Markus/Becker, Annette (2008): Introduction to English Linguistics. 2te aktual. Aufl. A Francke Verlag, Tübingen und Basel., p. 155/156.
*Bieswanger, Markus/Becker, Annette (2008): Introduction to English Linguistics. 2te aktual. Aufl. A Francke Verlag, Tübingen und Basel., p. 155/156.
*[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.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 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