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Understanding Semantics and Ambiguity

The document explores the concept of semantics, focusing on how words and sentences create meaning through lexical, syntactic, and general ambiguity. It includes activities for identifying ambiguous words and sentences, as well as discussions on how context influences interpretation. The importance of semantics in effective communication is emphasized, highlighting its role in preventing misunderstandings and shaping message perception.

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9 views9 pages

Understanding Semantics and Ambiguity

The document explores the concept of semantics, focusing on how words and sentences create meaning through lexical, syntactic, and general ambiguity. It includes activities for identifying ambiguous words and sentences, as well as discussions on how context influences interpretation. The importance of semantics in effective communication is emphasized, highlighting its role in preventing misunderstandings and shaping message perception.

Uploaded by

kaskidew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Semantics

Semantics
Exploring how words and sentences create meaning
Warm-Up (5 min)
• Sentence: “I saw her duck.”
• Question: What could this mean?

• Discuss in pairs → share interpretations.


Find the Confusing Word (5 min)

Find the Confusing Word!

• 1) He saw the bat.


• 2) She went to the bank.
• 3) I can’t bear it.

• Task: Identify words that have more than one


meaning and their possible meanings
What’s the meaning (5min)
Sentences:
1. Visiting relatives can be annoying.

2. Flying planes can be dangerous.

• Task: Identify different interpretations


• Discuss how context helps clarify meaning
Change the Order → Change the Meaning ( 5min)
• 1) The kids watched the movie they liked / The kids liked the
movie they watched

• 2) He visited the museum he admired / He admired the


museum he visited.

• 3) She read the book she wanted / She wanted the book she
read

• Task: Discuss meaning differences → which sentence comes


first logically
Mini-Lesson ( 10 min)
1. Lexical ambiguity occurs when a word has more than one meaning.
Focus- The ambiguity is at the word level.
Key point: The sentence structure is fine , it’s the word itself causing confusion.
Example: I saw a bat: Does “bat” mean the flying animal or a baseball bat?

2. Syntactic ambiguity occurs when a sentence’s structure ( syntax) allows multiple interpretations.
Focus- The ambiguity is at the sentence or grammatical level.
Key Point: The words themselves are clear, it’s how they are arranged that creates ambiguity.

3. General Ambiguity( Ambiguous ambiguity) is a general term for any expressions (word, phrase, sentence) that
can be interpreted in more than one way. ( A sentence that can be interpreted in multiple ways)
Focus- It can include both lexical and syntactic ambiguity, or even broader king like pragmatic ambiguity

Lexical: Word meaning


Syntactic: Sentence structure
Ambiguous: General, can be interpreted in multiple ways.
What is Semantics?

Semantics is the study of meaning in


language, analyzing how words, phrases,
and sentences convey meaning and how
context influences interpretation.

The study of the relationship between


words and their meanings.
Creation Task(7 min)

In groups of four, create:

• 2 lexical ambiguity sentence

• 1 syntactic ambiguity pair.

• 1 General ambiguity sentence.

• Exchange with another group → interpret meanings


How Semantics Affects Communication

Semantics affects communication by ensuring that words


and sentences convey the intended meaning, preventing
misunderstandings and ambiguity. It also influences
interpretation, clarity, and emotional impact, shaping how
messages are perceived in different contexts.

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