Chapter 13: Ambiguity, Equivocation, and Other Language Considerations

COMM 300 - Argumentation, Final Exam

What is linguistic consistency?

the requirement that all key terms in an argument maintain the same clear, unchanging definition throughout the argument

What is ambiguity?

more than one meaning of a word or phrase in a single context

What are the two types of ambiguity?

1. semantic

2. syntactic

What is semantic ambiguity?

the ambiguity that occurs when a word or phrase carries more than one meaning in a particular context

What is a syntactic ambiguity?

the ambiguity that occurs because the structure or grammar of a sentence renders the meaning of a word or phrase uncertain

What is equivocation?

changing meaning of a key term in the course of an argument

Why is equivocation a problem?

the synonyms are different and are not interchangeable

What is redundancy?

unnecessary repetition of an idea or term

What is a mixed metaphor?

a linguistic combination of images that do not belong together

What are the other two types of other language considerations?

1. choosing the wrong word

2. misusing a common expression