1. For each of the following underlined statements identify any vagueness, semantic ambiguity or syntactic ambiguity in the statement. If the statement is vague, explain why. If the statement is ambiguous, provide at least two alternative interpretations of the statement that illustrate the different meanings.
a. New Guinea is not advanced.
b. I called him a liar. It is true, and I am sorry for it. (Statement is that of a politician responding to the demand that he apologize for calling a colleague a liar)
c. Wendy ran a marathon.
d. “See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don’t attack each other. Free nations don’t develop weapons of mass destruction.” (George W. Bush, speaking in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 3rd, 2003)
e. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose. (from Shakespeare’s Henry VI)
f. She is an Asian historian.
a. New Guinea is not advanced.
What do you mean by advanced?
b. Are you sorry he's a liar? Or are you sorry you called him a liar?
I'll be glad to critique your responses to the other statements.
This is what i have done
a. New Guinea is not advanced.
This is Vagueness
We do not know what New Guinea is not advanced in
b. I called him a liar. It is true, and I am sorry for it. (Statement is that of a politician responding to the demand that he apologizes for calling a colleague a liar)
This is ambiguous and syntactic.
He could mean,
1. It is true that he is liar and I am sorry about the fact
2. It is true that “I called him a liar” and I am sorry to call him a liar
c. Wendy ran a marathon
This is ambiguous and semantic
The word “ran” could mean
1. Wendy actually ran in a marathon
2. Wendy organized a marathon
d. “See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don’t attack each other. Free nations don’t develop weapons of mass destruction.” (George W. Bush, speaking in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 3rd, 2003)
This is Vagueness
“free nations” we don’t know what he is referring to, what are these nations free from? Is America not a free nation? Then why do they have weapons of mass destruction?
e. The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose. (from Shakespeare’s Henry VI)
This is ambiguous and semantic
The word “depose” could mean
1. To remove or kill
2. Testify or affirm under oath.
f. She is an Asian historian.
This is ambiguous and syntactic.
1. She could be of Asian Ethnicity
2. She could be a historian focusing on Asia
a. In the statement "New Guinea is not advanced," the term "advanced" is vague because it lacks specificity. What does it mean to be "advanced" in this context? Is it referring to economic development, technological progress, social infrastructure, or something else? Without further clarification, it is unclear what the statement means by "advanced."
b. The statement "I called him a liar. It is true, and I am sorry for it" is syntactically ambiguous. It can be interpreted in two ways:
1. The speaker is admitting the truth of calling someone a liar and regretting it.
2. The speaker is affirming the truth of someone being a liar, and expressing remorse for it.
The intended meaning depends on the emphasis and interpretation of "It is true" within the context.
c. The statement "Wendy ran a marathon" does not exhibit any vagueness or ambiguity.
d. The statement by George W. Bush, "See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction," contains semantic ambiguity. The term "free nations" can have two interpretations:
1. Nations that have political freedom or democratic systems.
2. Nations that are not held captive or constrained by any external force or threat.
The intended meaning depends on whether "free nations" refers to political freedom or external constraints.
e. The line from Shakespeare's Henry VI, "The duke yet lives that Henry shall depose," contains syntactic ambiguity. It can be interpreted as:
1. The duke, whom Henry shall eventually depose, is still alive.
2. The duke, whom Henry shall depose, is currently alive and actively plotting against him.
The intended meaning depends on the emphasis and interpretation of "that" within the context.
f. The statement "She is an Asian historian" does not exhibit any vagueness or ambiguity.