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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Ambiguous sentence
Hello, thanks for your help. I'm now interested in ambiguous sentences. It is argued by many linguists that sentences containing more than one quantifier sometimes become ambiguous. For example, there are two possible interpretaion in the following (1a), represented as in (2a) and (2b).
(1) Someone loves everyone.
(2) a. There is a man X such that, for every woman Y, X loves Y.
b. For every woman Y, there is a man X such that X loves Y.
Then, I would like you to consider the following sentences in (3)-(7) as to whether there are also such ambiguity as in the above example.
(3) Someone believes that everyone is kind.
(4) Someone wanted to visit everyone.
(5) Someone saw everyone leave.
(6) Someone expects everyone to leave.
(7) Someone recalls everyone being born.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
(1) Someone loves everyone.
(2) a. There is a man X such that, for every woman Y, X loves Y.
b. For every woman Y, there is a man X such that X loves Y.
Then, I would like you to consider the following sentences in (3)-(7) as to whether there are also such ambiguity as in the above example.
(3) Someone believes that everyone is kind.
(4) Someone wanted to visit everyone.
(5) Someone saw everyone leave.
(6) Someone expects everyone to leave.
(7) Someone recalls everyone being born.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Top answer
Hi, In 2a and 2b, your basic premise is wrong. Men can love other men, and women can love other women. eg a father loves his son, and vice versa.
- Hi, In 2a and 2b, your basic premise is wrong.
- Men can love other men, and women can love other women.
- eg a father loves his son, and vice versa.
- Clive
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7 Answers
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Hi,
In 2a and 2b, your basic premise is wrong.
Men can love other men, and women can love other women.
eg a father loves his son, and vice versa.
Clive
In 2a and 2b, your basic premise is wrong.
Men can love other men, and women can love other women.
eg a father loves his son, and vice versa.
Clive
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Sir Clive:
Thank you for your indication. As you have pointed out, this is my fault. (2a) and (2b) are just one of the possible interpretations of (1); there are some other possibilities indeed. With this in mind, can you take the similar strategy in (3)-(7)? Thanks in advance!
Thank you for your indication. As you have pointed out, this is my fault. (2a) and (2b) are just one of the possible interpretations of (1); there are some other possibilities indeed. With this in mind, can you take the similar strategy in (3)-(7)? Thanks in advance!
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Hi,
Let's look at (3) Someone believes that everyone is kind.
Here's how I think a native speaker would normally interpret this.
One person in the world believes that all persons in the world are k
Let's look at (3) Someone believes that everyone is kind.
Here's how I think a native speaker would normally interpret this.
One person in the world believes that all persons in the world are k
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I'm sorry for my late reply.
Yes, I completely agree with what you wrote on the sentence in (3). The sentences in (4)-(7), however, seems to me to have another interpretation; specifically, the sentence in (4) can be interpreted as "A particular person wanted to visit everyone in the world." or as "Everyone in the world had (at least) one person who wanted to visit him/her, but not neces
Yes, I completely agree with what you wrote on the sentence in (3). The sentences in (4)-(7), however, seems to me to have another interpretation; specifically, the sentence in (4) can be interpreted as "A particular person wanted to visit everyone in the world." or as "Everyone in the world had (at least) one person who wanted to visit him/her, but not neces
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In addition, the sentences in (5)-(7) appears to me to have two interpretations as well. Namely, (5) can be interpreted as "A particular person saw everyone to leave." or as "Everyone was seen to leave by (at least) one person, but not necessarily the same person." (6) will also be paraphrased like "A particular person expects everyone to leave." and "Everyone is expected to leave by (at least) o
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Hi,
I see what you mean, and I can see the ambiguity.
Outside lingustics, of course, in the world of practical English, the context would normally make the intended meaning clear. If not, one would ask for clarification.
A stranger is u
I see what you mean, and I can see the ambiguity.
Outside lingustics, of course, in the world of practical English, the context would normally make the intended meaning clear. If not, one would ask for clarification.
A stranger is u
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I really appreciate your advice from the bottom of my heart. It was indeed thoughtless of me not to provide appropriate information beforehand. Nevertheless, you are kind enough to teach me lots of things.
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