Ambiguity

Abstract

Ambiguity Anne Foerst Ambiguity is imbedded in the texture of our life. Most complex phenomena, most of our urgent questions and ultimate concerns, and most of our sensory perceptions are inherently ambiguous. And like all terms that describe complex phenomena, the term “ambiguous” is ambiguous (pun intended…). On the one hand, ambiguity implies uncertainty and the lack of clarity. On the other hand, we use the term “ambiguity” to describe phenomena with multiple meanings or interpretations. Both meanings of the term are closely related. When we are confronted with uncertainty, we seek certainty. This means, any ambiguous phenomenon in the first sense of the word is asking for a more in‐depth understanding that overcomes uncertainty. However, we are using the same strategy for ambiguity in the second sense of the word. We are deeply uncomfortable with multiple meanings and are, therefore, often inclined to declare one meaning correct and the other irrelevant or even incorrect. It is intrinsically human to avoid ambiguity and to reduce complex phenomena into simpler theories that can be easily understood. Ambiguity has often been analyzed in the context of language. Early attempts at machine language led to a slew of analyses on the ambiguity of language in order to enable machine to understand and re‐create natural language. In today's technical environments where Siri, Alexa, and other language‐based avatars are ubiquitous, such analyses seem to be obsolete. However, everyone who ever worked with such avatars or even simple language‐based search engines knows how often these systems misunderstand. It is naïve to assume that every word means always the same and, yet, this is an assumption that many of us subconsciously hold. However, “Ambiguity is not a rare freak; it permeates language as much as water permeates an organism.” According to Robinson, there are several levels of ambiguity in language. The first and most simple is the ambiguity found in words such as “this” and “she” which have different meanings nearly every time they are used; however, their meaning can be easily determined based on context. Proper nouns are also inherently ambiguous but can easily be clarified and understood. A more complex form of ambiguity can be found in terms that describe a large complex of conceptions that are somehow felt to belong together. Robinson brings up the example of virtue that can have meanings on a whole scale of conceptions. Making money can be seen as virtue as well as giving all money away to the poor. Here, the ambiguity of the term lies in the scale on which the specific meaning, depending on the context, can slide up or down. Then there are numerous examples of words having completely unconnected meanings. “Time flies like and arrow and fruit flies like a banana” is among the better‐known examples. Again, context can help to clarify; but such double meanings are also a wonderful source for puns and humor. Context is the way to solve most language ambiguities. Not only can the context make the meaning of an ambiguous phrase clear, we also create context when the ambiguity is too strong, and even construct meaning out of gibberish. For instance, when talking to a friend in a noisy bar, we will believe we understand her perfectly even though we might miss most of her words, because we will fill the gaps of her speech based on our knowledge of her and the topics discussed. A beautiful example of creating language patterns out of gibberish can be found in Edgar Allen Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue where all witnesses who have heard the “conversation” between the sailor and his Orangutan are sure that the dialogue partner of the sailor spoke a foreign language. They all clearly recognize a specific language even though they all recognize a language they themselves do not speak… This means there are two strategies coping with language ambiguity. We either detect patterns of meaning out of contextual cues, or we create patterns of meaning. The most complex form of ambiguity in language can be found when a word can have different, somewhat connected meanings. In dialogue, people using the same word might attach very different...