Semantics 1, SoSe 2014: Difference between revisions
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a. Duncan trusted Macbeth because he was a thane. | a. Duncan trusted Macbeth because he was a thane. | ||
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Check your | Check your answer | ||
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# Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity | # Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity | ||
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b. Every king trusts a thane. | b. Every king trusts a thane. | ||
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Check your answer | |||
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# Type of ambiguity: scope ambiguity | |||
# Reading 1: ''every'' takes scope over ''a''. Paraphrase: ''For every king there is at least one thane such that the king trusts that thane.''<br />Reading 2: ''a'' takes scope over ''every''. Paraphrase: ''There is one particular thane such that each king trusts this thane.'' | |||
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b. Macbeth and Macduff are married. | b. Macbeth and Macduff are married. | ||
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Check your answer | |||
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# Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity | |||
# Reading 1: ''he'' refers to ''Macbeth''. Paraphrase: ''Duncan trusted Macbeth because Macbeth was a thane.''<br />Reading 2: ''he'' refers to ''Duncan''. Paraphrase: ''Duncan trusted Macbeth because Duncan was a thane.'' | |||
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b. Macbeth killed a king with a dagger. | b. Macbeth killed a king with a dagger. | ||
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:800px"> | |||
Check your answer | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
# Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity | |||
# Reading 1: ''he'' refers to ''Macbeth''. Paraphrase: ''Duncan trusted Macbeth because Macbeth was a thane.''<br />Reading 2: ''he'' refers to ''Duncan''. Paraphrase: ''Duncan trusted Macbeth because Duncan was a thane.'' | |||
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Revision as of 13:51, 2 July 2014
Material for the seminar Semantics 1, summer term 2014, Goethe University, Frankfurt a.M.
Mock exam file: File:Mock-exam-sose14.pdf
The examples in the text are based on Shakespeare's play Macbeth. The full text of the play is available on Projekt Gutenberg.
Task 1: Ambiguity
Consider the following ambiguous sentences.
- For each of these, determine the type of ambiguity.
- Provide an unambiguous paraphrase for the possible readings.
(1) a. Duncan trusted Macbeth because he was a thane.
Check your answer
- Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity
- Reading 1: he refers to Macbeth. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Macbeth was a thane.
Reading 2: he refers to Duncan. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Duncan was a thane.
b. Every king trusts a thane.
Check your answer
- Type of ambiguity: scope ambiguity
- Reading 1: every takes scope over a. Paraphrase: For every king there is at least one thane such that the king trusts that thane.
Reading 2: a takes scope over every. Paraphrase: There is one particular thane such that each king trusts this thane.
b. Macbeth and Macduff are married.
Check your answer
- Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity
- Reading 1: he refers to Macbeth. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Macbeth was a thane.
Reading 2: he refers to Duncan. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Duncan was a thane.
b. Macbeth killed a king with a dagger.
Check your answer
- Type of ambiguity: referential ambiguity
- Reading 1: he refers to Macbeth. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Macbeth was a thane.
Reading 2: he refers to Duncan. Paraphrase: Duncan trusted Macbeth because Duncan was a thane.