Semantics 1, SoSe 2014: Difference between revisions
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# Type of ambiguity: | # Type of ambiguity: collective-distributive ambiguity | ||
# Reading 1: | # Reading 1: collective reading. Paraphrase: ''Macbeth and Macduff are married to each other''<br />Reading 2: distributive reading. Paraphrase: ''Macbeth and Macduff are both married, but not to each other.'' | ||
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# Type of ambiguity: | # Type of ambiguity: structural ambiguity | ||
# Reading 1: '' | # Reading 1: the PP ''with a dagger'' is a modifier of the verb ''kill'' Paraphrase: ''Macbeth used a dagger to kill a king.''<br />Reading 2: the PP ''with a dagger'' is a modifier of the noun ''king''. Paraphrase: ''Macbeth killed a king who had a dagger.'' | ||
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Revision as of 13:53, 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: collective-distributive ambiguity
- Reading 1: collective reading. Paraphrase: Macbeth and Macduff are married to each other
Reading 2: distributive reading. Paraphrase: Macbeth and Macduff are both married, but not to each other.
b. Macbeth killed a king with a dagger.
Check your answer
- Type of ambiguity: structural ambiguity
- Reading 1: the PP with a dagger is a modifier of the verb kill Paraphrase: Macbeth used a dagger to kill a king.
Reading 2: the PP with a dagger is a modifier of the noun king. Paraphrase: Macbeth killed a king who had a dagger.