Lexical Ambiguity Definition and Examples

Lexical ambiguity is the presence of two or more possible meanings for a single word. Its also called semantic ambiguity or  homonymy. It differs from syntactic ambiguity, which is the presence of two or more possible meanings within a sentence or sequence of words. Lexical ambiguity is sometimes used deliberately to create puns and other types of wordplay. According to the editors of the  MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences, True  lexical ambiguity is  typically distinguished from polysemy (e.g., the N.Y. Times as in this mornings edition of the newspaper versus the company that publishes the newspaper) or from vagueness (e.g., cut as in cut the lawn or cut the cloth), though the boundaries can be fuzzy. Examples and Observations You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen; it said, Parking Fine. So that was nice.(English comedian Tim Vine)Do you believe in clubs for young people? someone asked W.C. Fields. Only when kindness fails, replied Fields.(Quoted by Graeme Ritchie in The Linguistic Analysis of Jokes)Donald Ressler: The third guard, hes in the hospital. Berlin cut his hand off.Aram Mojtabai: No, no. Its a lexical ambiguity. He cut his hand off.Elizabeth Keen: Berlin cut off his own hand?(Berlin: Conclusion, The Blacklist, May 12, 2014)Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend; inside its too hard to read.(Groucho Marx)The rabbi married my sister.She is looking for a match.The fisherman went to the bank.I have a really nice stepladder. Sadly, I never knew my real ladder.(English comedian Harry Hill) Context [C]ontext is highly relevant to this part of the meaning of utterances. . . . For example, They passed the port at midnight is lexically ambiguous. However, it would normally be clear in a given context which of the two homonyms, port (harbor) or port (kind of fortified wine), is being used—and also which sense of the polysemous verb pass is intended. (John Lyons, Linguistic Semantics: An Introduction) Characteristics The following example, taken from Johnson-Laird (1983), illustrates two important characteristics of lexical ambiguity: The plane banked just before landing, but then the pilot lost control. The strip on the field runs for only the barest of yards and the plane just twisted out of the turn before shooting into the ground. First, that this passage is not particularly difficult to understand in spite of the fact that all of its content words are ambiguous suggests that ambiguity is unlikely to invoke special resource-demanding processing mechanisms but rather is handled as a byproduct of normal comprehension. Second, there are a number of ways in which a word can be ambiguous. The word plane, for example, has several noun meanings, and it can also be used as a verb. The word twisted could be an adjective and is also morphologically ambiguous between the past tense and participial forms of the verb to twist. (Patrizia Tabossi, Semantic Effects on Syntactic Ambiguity Resolution in Attention and Performance XV, edited by C. Umiltà   and M. Moscovitch) Processing Words Depending on the relationship among the alternative meanings available for a particular word form, lexical ambiguity has been categorized as either polysemous, when meanings are related, or homonymous, when unrelated. Although ambiguity is graded, for words that are at one or the other end of this spectrum and thus are easy to classify, polysemy and homonymy have been shown to have differing effects on reading behaviors. Whereas related meanings have been shown to facilitate word recognition, unrelated meanings have been found to slow processing times ... (Chia-lin Lee and Kara D. Federmeier, In a Word: ERPs Reveal Important Lexical Variables for Visual Word Processing in The Handbook of the Neuropsychology of Language, edited by Miriam Faust)

Discourses Are Defined By The Perceptions Received Through

Discourses are defined by the perceptions received through information given by various resources. To specify, the resources are the media, television, images, magazines or websites. There are many aspects of discourses, which inhibits a different outcome as according to context. Discourses are conversations between different types of people or social groups (Gee, 2015) For instance, identity can conform around the discourses that surround cultural and social influences. Whereas knowledge and power becomes interlinked, causing systems of hierarchy to occur. Discourses has occurred in both historical and political contexts through the media. This in turn, made the discourses more dominant and influential in society. Capital discourse are†¦show more content†¦Early childhood educators should focus on the ‘moral value’ of the actions they chose to take for children’s experiences, (Buzzelli, 1996). Individuals would utilise their knowledge to make choices th roughout their life. This may effect their sense of self and the subjectivity they may receive. Borgstrom Walter (2015) accentuates that choice is a another form of discourse and defines choice as a ‘tick box’. A child’s habitus is formed through familial fields as interactions between one another were regarded as important (Alanen, Brooker and Mayall, 2015). Discourses can become empowered through institutions such as the school or media. Image 1 portrays individual disbelief at ethnic discourse as individuals should not be unfairly labelled. Through the media, they have become influenced to believe that Muslim and Arabic individuals are involved with acts of terrorism. This in turn, reiterates that discourses can occur through many fields and can effect many individuals. Our identity is constructed through social and cultural practices, we continuously partake in. Identity can also be shaped by our beliefs, appearance, personalities through the growing stages of our life. These components allow us to construct a sense of self through subjectivity. To clarify the conceptualisation of subjectivity, it is a flexible aspect that allows us toShow MoreRelatedHow Discourse Is Used For Power And Knowledge, And For Resistance And Critique1203 Words   |  5 PagesDiscourse is a broad term with various definitions which â€Å"integrates a whole palette of meanings† (Titscher et al., 2000, p.42), covering a large area from linguistics, through sociology, philosophy and other disciplines. According to Fairclough (1989) the term refers to â€Å"the whole process of interaction of which a text is just a part† (Fairclough, 1989, p.24). As pervasive ways of experiencing the world, discourses refer to expressing oneself using words. Discourses can be u sed for asserting powerRead MoreAnalysis Of Dorothy Parker s One Perfect Rose1311 Words   |  6 Pagesthese themes are outlined through three dominant modes of discourse which I will be engaging with throughout the literary commentary; structure, voice and the use of metaphor. The commentary will address these discourses in relation to an adaptation of the original poem into prose, taking into consideration the implications of textual adaptation. This textual intervention will provide the necessary analysis in order gain an understanding of the text which is constituted through experiment and re-creationRead MoreWho Are Indigenous Australi Identity?1619 Words   |  7 Pagespopulations may have defined themselves, was rejected, as was any behaviour that did not conform to the stereotyped images that the colonisers had constructed about Indigenous peoples (Brough, et al., 2006). Language is powerful and the negative framing of Aboriginal identity creates a deficit mindset of f ailure and disempowerment, that pervades Aboriginal communities (Fforde, Bamblett, Lovett, Gorringe, Fogarty, 2013). This perspective and discourse of deficit, is the one that carried through to the educationRead MoreRepresentations Of Disability During The 20th Century1727 Words   |  7 Pagesnational existence.† Since then, our changing perception of disabled veterans of military service has affected the success and practice of their rehabilitation. Historians and social scientists have found it difficult to understand the process of identity formation among disabled veterans. This difficulty is rooted in historian’s inability to make sense of the disabled veteran’s history, social position, and representation in culture and discourse. Historian Paul Lawrie, who argues one of many interpretationsRead MoreWhat is Social Order? Essay examples1248 Words   |  5 Pages These norms are defined as ‘shared sets of values or expectations about how people will or should behave’. (Silva E, 2009, p307). Sociologist Erving Goffman and social philosopher Michel Foucault both concern themselves with the wider understanding of how society is produced and how social order is made and remade. Both use contrasting approaches to explain the links between individuals and society, the basis of Goffman’s research is that social order is made and remade through individuals, whilstRead MoreBefore Taking A Medical Oath, Every Nursing Trainee Should1026 Words   |  5 Pagesexperience in the nursing profession. The nurses have a duty to address the negativity surrounding the noble profession. Negativity interferes with the proper delivery of healthcare. Image presentation which may be through the dressing style, piercings and tattoos portray a very compelling perception in the patient’s eyes. In the modern times, more male earn their way in the nursing profession to become reputable and successful practitioners. Community participation, critical thinking, teamwork, and communicatio nRead MoreComparative And Normative Function As A Standard Of Behavior1617 Words   |  7 Pages Zou et al draw upon previous research demonstrating how perceived consensus occurs within groups. Groups can be particularly useful when we are unsure of the situation through two functions: comparative and normative. The comparative function serves as a benchmark; individuals will look towards others to see how they compare in terms of behavior and values. The normative function acts as a standard of behavior; when we are uncertain, we will look towards others to determine what is the normalRead MoreDescartes Views on the Topic of Philosophy of Mind Essay755 Words   |  4 Pages thinking sunstance. But it not just these definitions that allow Descartes to adopt a dualistic point of view. Descartes came to the conclusion in meditation I of his discourse of method that any data received from the senses could be doubted and therefore unreliable. As the body is known only through the senses, Descartes was able to doubt the existence of such a body and all other bodies for that. In meditation II however he arrives at the knowledge that doubting theRead MoreContemporary Art And Artistic Practices1465 Words   |  6 PagesHistorical Context The Community-based Artistic Practices are not a complete novelty in contemporary art, their rhetoric are being used as strategic tools, to support discourse such as democracy, equality, social justice among other, from the 1960s on a explicit way. Even less, this â€Å"social turn† , understood as an ethical shift by artist and critics who focus their attention on the aspect of social usefulness of the art practices, characterized by an increase of art projects that emphasize participationRead MoreThe International Women s Media Foundation1500 Words   |  6 PagesFoundation, IWMF 2013). The media has had a dated history of being associated feminism and its struggles within the society (Zoonen 1994:148). To Kidd (1996), sports media text play a significant role in the production, reproduction, and transforming discourses on gender relations. This has led to an integration of the mass media with the production and the distribution of sporting commodities For instance, newspap ers devoting an entire columns to sports and some cities designed around sports images (Kidd

Free- Penalty Rates in Retail & Hospitality Industry Free-Samples

Question: Discuss about the Penalty Rates in Retail Hospitality Industry. Answer: Introduction Minimum wage penalty rates are most controversial topics nowadays in the Australian retail hospitality sector. Minimum wage can be defined as the base rate of payment in case of employees working in ordinary hours. The Fair Work Commission helps in regulating the minimum wage of employees. On the other hand the penalty rates must be paid by employers to employees in case of working in the weekends at the same time in disadvantageous conditions. Penalty rates help in encouraging employees within an organisation for working overtime, late night shifts at the same time working in weekends public holidays. Employees generally wish to enjoy their social life in these periods therefore it is important to provide extra incentive to encourage employees (Masterman-Smith Pocock, 2008). Penalty rates act as compensation to employees working in the unsociable hours. Government of Australia had taken large incentive in providing extra support in the form of penalty rates to employees. Thou gh penalty rates are suitable in encouraging employees to work in this condition, it hurts the interest of employers of different organisations. In case of retail hospitality industries also the penalty rates are deteriorating the profitability condition of employers this on the other hand is affecting the growth rate of these organisations. Different economists have given their own arguments regarding the minimum wages penalty rates controversy is continuing in Australia in this field. It is evident that retail sector plays a crucial role in the overall growth rate of the economy. This sector has largest contribution in providing employment to large number of people in the country (Neumark Wascher, 2007). Different economist have argued that the increase in the minimum wage of employees impose large amount of pressure on employers since it escalates their overall cost of production. In both the retail hospitality industries increasing the minimum wage lead to the increase in the unemployment rate in the economy. Recently the Australian government has taken the decision to slash the penalty rate in order to encourage retail hospitality industries. Retail sector have demanded that the penalty rate should be reduced to 150% from previous 200%. The hospitality industries have also shown their interest in reducing the penalty rate from the existing rate (fairwork.gov, 2017). The penalty rates for employees working in the hospitality industry will be reduced from 175% to 150%. In case of the hospitality industry the drop in the penalty rate will lead to the decrease in the earning to $212 from $248, for people who are earning minimum wage, i.e. $17.70 per hour. Since almost 1 million workers in Australia are dependent on the penalty rates therefore reducing the penalty rates will hurt their interest. The reduction in the penalty rates will seriously affect employees with minimum wage group (Stewart, 2008). Since people with the minimum wage group generally wants to earn extra income by working i n the unsociable working hours, reduction in the penalty rates is not a fair decision for them. References fairwork.gov. (2017).fairwork.gov. [online] Available at: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/penalty-rates-and-allowances [Accessed 20 Apr. 2017]. Masterman-Smith, H., Pocock, B. (2008).Living low paid: the dark side of prosperous Australia. Allen Unwin. Neumark, D., Wascher, W. L. (2007). Minimum wages and employment.Foundations and Trends in Microeconomics,3(12), 1-182. Stewart, A. (2008).Stewart's guide to employment law(Vol. 3). Sydney: Federation Press.

Language choice free essay sample

Certain social factors, who you are talking to, the social context of the talk, the function and topic of the discussion turn out to e Important In accounting for language choice In many different kinds of speech community. Domain Is clearly a very general concept which draws on three Important social factors In code choice; participants, setting, and topic. It Is useful for capturing broad generalization about any speech community. A model Like this Is useful In a number of ways because It forces us to be very clear about which domains and varieties are relevant to language choice.A second reason why an explicit model is useful is that it provides a clear basis for comparing patterns of code choice in different speech communities. Finally, it needs to be recognized that language choice events do not exist in a vacuum. Language is, after all, a medium for interaction and communication between people, and the use of language will reflect the infinite complexity of human relationships. We will write a custom essay sample on Language choice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Other social factors affecting code choices It is often necessary to examine more specific social factors if a model; is to be a useful description of code choices in a community.People may select a particular variety or code because it makes it easier to discuss a particular topic regardless of where they are speaking. When both participants share marathon one variety, then there factors will contribute to the appropriate choice. The social distance dimension is relevant. The status relationship: relevant in selecting the appropriate code Social role: contribute to status differences between people Feature of the setting and dimension of formality The function or goal So In describing the patterns of code use of particular communities, the relevant social factors may not fit neatly into institutionalized domains.More specific social factors often need to be included, and a range of social dimension may need to be considered too. Diagnosis Diagnosis has three crucial features: 1 . Two distinct varieties of the same language are used In the community with one regarded as a high (or H) variety and the other a low (or L) variety. 2. Each variety Is used for quite distinct functions; H and L complement each other. 3.No one uses the H variety In everyday conversations language choice By Brian obscure terms as diagnosis, domain, code-switching and ethnologists vitality, milieu in which the speaker finds himself. Certain social factors, who you are talking be important in accounting for language choice in many different kinds of speech community. Domain is clearly a very general concept which draws on three important social factors in code choice; participants, setting, and topic.It is useful for capturing broad generalization about any speech community. A model like this is useful in a number of ways because it forces us to be very clear about which So in describing the patterns of code use of particular communities, the relevant social factors may not fit neatly into institutionalized domains. More specific social 1. Two distinct varieties of the same language are used in the community with one regarded as a high (or H) variety and the other a low (or L) variety. 2. Each variety is H variety in everyday conversations