Ambiguity Resolution Exercise Notes
Ambiguities and Their Resolutions
1. Your argument is sound, nothing but sound.
- Ambiguity: The phrase "nothing but sound" could imply that the argument is simply logical, or it may suggest a literal interpretation of being only sound.
- Resolution: Your argument is logically sound and has no flaws.
2. You must meet my old friend.
- Ambiguity: This could mean that the listener must meet an old friend of the speaker or that the speaker is an old friend who is being introduced.
- Resolution: You must meet my friend who I've known for a long time.
3. While running with the ball, I twisted my ankle.
- Ambiguity: It is unclear if the subject was running while holding the ball or if the subject was running alongside someone/something else that had the ball.
- Resolution: While I was running while holding the ball, I twisted my ankle.
4. While doing his homework, John's mother read the newspaper.
- Ambiguity: It is not clear if John's mother read the newspaper while he was doing his homework or if she was also doing homework herself.
- Resolution: While John was doing his homework, his mother read the newspaper.
5. While correcting papers, the message came from the principal.
- Ambiguity: It is not clear if the principal was correcting papers or if the person correcting papers received the message from the principal.
- Resolution: While I was correcting papers, I received a message from the principal.
6. When I advocated for the abolition of imprisonment for debt, Kofi said he was in favour of it.
- Ambiguity: It is ambiguous whether Kofi agreed with the proposal or simply acknowledged it without clear support.
- Resolution: While I was advocating for the abolition of imprisonment for debt, Kofi expressed his support for the idea.
- Ambiguity: The reason for cancelling could be interpreted as either related to the time of performance or as a tribute.
- Resolution: We decided to cancel tonight's performance as a tribute to Sir William.
8. Visiting New York for the first time, the skyscrapers were truly impressive.
- Ambiguity: It is unclear if the subject is the speaker or someone else visiting New York for the first time.
- Resolution: Visiting New York for the first time, I found the skyscrapers to be truly impressive.
9. The Vice Chancellor loves matriculating students.
- Ambiguity: This could imply that the Vice Chancellor enjoys the act of matriculating students or that they love the students who are being matriculated.
- Resolution: The Vice Chancellor loves the students who are matriculating this year.
10. The policeman stopped the man who was speeding down the highway, and he was angry.
- Ambiguity: It is unclear whether the policeman or the man was angry.
- Resolution: The policeman was angry after stopping the man who was speeding down the highway.
- Ambiguity: It can be interpreted as either recommendations made in 1981 or recommendations for reforms that were applicable in 1981.
- Resolution: In 1981, the committee made recommendations for educational reforms.
12. The arrest of the policemen surprised everyone.
- Ambiguity: It's not clear if 'everyone' refers to the public or to a particular group.
- Resolution: The arrest of the policemen surprised the members of the community.
13. She told me to slow down with great impatience.
- Ambiguity: It may indicate her impatience or might imply that her tone was impatient, leading to confusion.
- Resolution: With great impatience, she urged me to slow down.
14. On government orders, a volley of gun-shots was used to disperse the riot by the police.
- Ambiguity: The implication of 'government orders' can lead to confusion on responsibility.
- Resolution: The police used a volley of gunshots to disperse the riot under government orders.
15. I sat contently in the park, watching the dogs playing and smoking my pipe.
- Ambiguity: It could suggest that the verbs 'watching' and 'smoking' are simultaneous or that each action is separate.
- Resolution: I sat contently in the park; I was watching the dogs playing while I smoked my pipe.
16. He was driven from his home by his wife.
- Ambiguity: It can be interpreted that his wife forced him to leave, or he was driven home by her vehicle.
- Resolution: His wife forced him to leave their home.