Pragmatic ambiguity

Definition

Pragmatic ambiguity occurs when the meaning of a statement or expression is unclear due to the context in which it is used, leading to multiple interpretations. This type of ambiguity can arise from factors such as word choice, speaker intent, or situational context, affecting how listeners understand references within discourse. It often plays a crucial role in the interpretation of anaphora, where the relationship between expressions and their antecedents can be ambiguous depending on the surrounding context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pragmatic ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings if listeners misinterpret the intended reference due to insufficient context.
2. In pronominal anaphora, ambiguity arises when multiple antecedents are present, making it unclear which noun the pronoun refers to.
3. VP anaphora can exhibit pragmatic ambiguity when a verb phrase has multiple interpretations based on previous discourse.
4. Discourse anaphora relies on previous parts of the conversation to clarify meaning, but can still be subject to pragmatic ambiguity if the context is not clear.
5. Pragmatic ambiguity highlights the importance of context in language comprehension, as different interpretations can lead to varied responses from listeners.

Review Questions

• How does pragmatic ambiguity manifest in pronominal anaphora, and what challenges does it present for understanding references?
  • Pragmatic ambiguity in pronominal anaphora occurs when there are multiple possible antecedents for a pronoun within a discourse. This can create confusion for listeners trying to identify which noun the pronoun is referencing. For example, in a sentence like 'Sara told Lisa that she won the award,' it’s unclear whether 'she' refers to Sara or Lisa, leading to different interpretations based on listener assumptions about the context.
• Discuss how VP anaphora illustrates pragmatic ambiguity and its impact on discourse coherence.
  • VP anaphora illustrates pragmatic ambiguity when a verb phrase refers back to a previously mentioned action but could pertain to different subjects or objects. For instance, if one person says, 'John likes pizza,' and another responds with, 'So does Mary,' it might be unclear whether 'does' refers specifically to liking pizza or another activity. This ambiguity can disrupt discourse coherence by causing confusion about what action is being discussed.
• Evaluate the role of contextual inference in resolving pragmatic ambiguity within discourse anaphora.
  • Contextual inference plays a crucial role in resolving pragmatic ambiguity within discourse anaphora by allowing listeners to draw upon background knowledge and situational context. When faced with ambiguous references, such as in 'The cat chased the dog, but it got away,' listeners use contextual cues and prior knowledge about cats and dogs to infer which subject 'it' refers to. This cognitive process helps clarify meanings that are otherwise ambiguous and supports effective communication by linking back to earlier parts of the conversation.

Related terms

anaphora: Anaphora is the linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase refers back to another word or phrase earlier in the discourse, creating a connection between them.

deixis: Deixis refers to words or phrases that require contextual information to convey meaning, such as pronouns and temporal or spatial indicators.

contextual inference:

Contextual inference is the process by which listeners use background knowledge and situational clues to derive meaning from ambiguous statements.