2. The Frequency of each Ambiguity
The writer uses Backpack 4 English textbook. From that book, the writer found four types of ambiguity. Each type of ambiguity has
different frequency. The writer uses the theory from Walizer edited by Sadiman to find the frequency of each types of ambiguity as follows:
P=
ி ே
x 100 P = Percentage
F = Frequency the numbers of ambiguity N = the sum of the frequency the total numbers of ambiguity
or Ambiguity percentage = The Numbers of ambiguity X 100
The Total Numbers of ambiguity To make it clear to understand, the writer presents the tables of
percentage of finding ambiguous sentences as follows: Table 4.6
The Percentage of Finding Ambiguous Sentences Types of Ambiguity
F P
Lexical Ambiguity
− Homonym − Homophone
− Polysemy
43 20
6 17
24,57 11,43
3,43 9,71
Referential Ambiguity
− Referential ambiguity occurs when an indefinite referring expression may be specific
or not. − Anaphora
− The pronoun you is used generically or specifically.
− A noun phrase with every can have distributed reference or collected reference
74
6 37
26 5
42,29 3,43
21,14 14,86
2,86
Surface structure Ambiguity 58
33,14
− Constructions containing the coordinators and and or
− A coordinate head with one modifier − A head with a coordinate modifier
− A head with an inner modifier and an outer modifier
− A complement and modifier or two complements.
− Certain function words, including not, have possible differences in scope.
2 26
7 13
10 1,14
14,86 4
7,43 5,71
Total N 175
100 The data from the table above takes into the chart to provide
percentage per types of ambiguous sentences, there are lexical ambiguity, referential ambiguity, surface structure ambiguity and deep structure
ambiguity. The writer found 43 sentences or 24,57 of lexical ambiguity, 74 sentences or 42,29 of referential ambiguity, 58
sentences or 33,14 of surface structure ambiguity, and 0 sentence or 0 of deep structure ambiguity.
The writer still devide per types of ambiguity in detail. Firstly, the writer divides lexicalambiguity into three types, namely: homonym,
homophone, and polysemy. The writer found 20 sentences contained homonym or about 11,43 , 6 sentences contained homophone or about
3,43 , and 17 sentences contained polysemy or about 9,71 . Secondly, the writer is providing referential ambiguity that is
divided into four type, that is: 1 referential ambiguity occurs when an indefinite referring expression may be specific or not; 2 anaphora; 3
the pronoun you is used generically or specifically; and 4 a noun phrase with every can have distributed reference or collected reference. The
writer found 6 belongs to referential ambiguity occurs when an indefinite referring expression may be specific or not or about 3,43 ; 37 belongs
to anaphora or about 21,14 ; 26 belongs to the pronoun you is used generically or specifically or about 14,86 ; and 5 belongs to a noun
phrase with every can have distributed reference or collected reference or about 2,86 .
Thirdly, the writer is providing surface structure ambiguity that still divided into six type, that is: 1 constructions containing the
coordinators and and or, 2 a coordinate head with one modifier, 3 a head with a coordinate modifier, 4 a head with an inner modifier and an
outer modifier, 5 a complement and modifier or two complements, and 6 certain function words, including not, have possible differences in
scope. The writer found 2 sentences or about 1,14 belongs constructions containing the coordinators and and or; 26 sentences or
about 14,86 belongs to a coordinate head with one modifier; 7 sentences or about 4 belongs to a head with a coordinate modifier; 13
sentences or about 7,43 belong to a head with an inner modifier and an outer modifier; 10 sentences or about 5,71 belongs to a complement
and modifier or two complements; and 0 sentence or about 0 belongs to certain function words, including not, have possible differences in
scope.
Chart 4.1 Frequency of Ambiguity
3. Dominant Type of Ambiguity