context of that sentence does not focus in the one of meaning. So both interpretations are true to be used in this sentence above. The
unambiguous sentences are: − Other stars bought real white tigers, real harp seals, real black
leopards and real gorillas. if it is the real thing − Other stars bought white tiger dolls, harp seal dolls, black
leopard dolls and gorilla dolls. if it is only doll
g. Faulty pronoun reference
Faulty pronoun reference occurs when the reader cannot tell to which antecedent the pronoun in a sentence is refering Hasnain,
2011: 1. All data in referential ambiguity called referential ambiguity because of faulty pronoun reference. The writer presents some
example from the data, that is: 1
The sidewalk’s full of ice and snow. backpack 4: 38 Sentence above contains anaphora because the words sidewalk
have more than one reference, there are: all sidewalk or each sidewalk. The context of that sentence does not focus in the one of
meaning. So both interpretations are true to be used in this sentence above.
2 We took a trip and visited my uncle, aunt and cousins.
backpack 4: 75 3
We came back home late on Tuesday the fourth backpack 4: 75
Sentences above contain anaphora, because pronoun we has more than one reference if it use in the different context, there are:
− We refer to the boy in the picture and family. − We refer to the boy in the picture and friends.
4 Good to see you backpack 4: 2
That sentence contains the types of referential ambiguity that is ‘the pronoun you is used generically or specifically’. In different
context, the pronoun you has more than one reference if it is used, there are:
− If those sentences read by reader alone, for example student wherever student is, you can refers to the readers
− If those sentences read by reader, for example teacher and has listeners, you refers to the listeners
− In If those sentences said by the boy in the text to his friend, you can refer to his friend that is the girl in the text.
From the cause of ambiguity above, the writer makes a table that explains the types and the cause of ambiguity as follows:
Table 4.7 Types, and Cause of Ambiguity Types of ambiguity
The causes of ambiguity
Lexical Ambiguity
1. Homonym
− without context − ambiguous word order
− ambiguous word 2.
Homophone − without context
− ambiguous word order − ambiguous word
3. Polysemy
− without context − ambiguous word order
− ambiguous word
Referential Ambiguity
1. Referential ambiguity occurs when
an indefinite referring expression may be specific or not.
− Faulty pronoun reference
2. Anaphora
− Faulty pronoun reference
3. The pronoun you is used generically
or specifically. − Faulty pronoun
reference 4.
A noun phrase with every can have distributed reference or collected
reference − Faulty pronoun
reference
Surface structure Ambiguity
1. Constructions containing the
coordinators and and or − Faulty of sentence
construction − Improper or missing
punctuation 2.
A coordinate head with one modifier − Faulty of sentence construction
3. A head with a coordinate modifier
− Improper or missing punctuation
4. A head with an inner modifier and
an outer modifier − Faulty of sentence
construction 5.
A complement and modifier or two complements.
− Faulty of sentence construction
6. Certain function words, including
not, have possible differences in scope
-
5. Ways to Disambiguate Ambiguity
