Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
CHAPTER IV THE ANALYSIS OF LEXICAL AND STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY
IN YOUR LETTERS OF THE JAKARTA POST
4.1 Analysis of Lexical and Structural Ambiguity
The data which is collected from The Jakarta Post within two week editions consists of 29 letters. The data will be analyzed based on lexical and structural
ambiguity. Here are the words or sentences that will possibly make the readers confused.
4.1.1 Lexical Ambiguity
1. What defined the past relationship was crisis management and that is what
both countries need to
This letter informs us about the relationship between Indonesia and Australia. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the meaning of
the word need to. The word need to has two meanings:
avoid in the future. Soccer may make RI-Aussie closer on Monday, March 2, 2009
a. must as modal b. require
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “What defined the past relationship was crisis management and that is what both countries must avoid in
the future” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “What defined the past relationship was crisis management and that is what both
countries require to avoid in the future”.
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
2. What is needed is a relationship characterized by front foot
This letter also informs us about the relationship Indonesia and Australia. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because the meaning of noun phrase
front foot functioning as adjective has two meanings, denotative and connotative: concrete
policies. Soccer may make RI-Aussie closer on Monday, March 2, 2009
a. the part of body that faces forward denotative meaning
b. necessary connotative meaning
In addition, the term of this noun phrase is not familiar to find so it makes the sentence ambiguous. The first meaning denotative is the part of body that
faces forward. If we attach this meaning, the sense of the sentence is not understandable. The second meaning connotative is necessary. If we attach this
meaning, the sense of the sentence is clear which means “What is needed is a relationship characterized by necessary concrete policies”.
3. Second, Australia is now belatedly very noisy
This letter tells us about the relationship between Indonesia and Australia. The above sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity caused by the word noisy which
has more than one meaning which is: on the issue of climate
change, … Soccer may make RI-Aussie closer on Monday, March 2,
2009
a. full of noise
b. caring worried
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Second, Australia is now belatedly very full of noise on the issue of climate change, …” while in the second
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Second, Australia is now belatedly very caring worried on the issue of climate change, …”. Since the word noisy has the
common meaning full of noise, this sentence is potentially categorized as ambiguity.
4. The taxation liability
This letter informs us about the fiscal tax payment. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word liability which has two meanings, as
follows: should be fulfilled by the head of the family.
Response to NPWP and departure tax on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
a. debt
b. obligation
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The taxation debt should be fulfilled by the head of the family” while in the second meaning the sentence is
interpreted as “The taxation obligation should be fulfilled by the head of the family”.
5. The VOC was a multinational company that employed fortune seekers and
soldiers from Western Europe, as well as
This letter informs us about Dutch government who did not colonize Indonesia. This sentence can be potentially ambiguous because the meaning of the
word as well as. This word has two meanings:
soldiers from Africa. Dutch govt did not colonize RI on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
a. also
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
b. equally well as
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The VOC was a multinational company that employed fortune seekers and soldiers from Western
Europe, also soldiers from Africa” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The VOC was a multinational company that employed fortune
seekers and soldiers from Western Europe, equally well as soldiers from Africa”.
6. It wasn’t until the early 19
th
century, after the VOC went
This letter also informs us about Dutch government who did not colonize Indonesia. This sentence above is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word
went which has meaning more than one, which is: bankrupt that its
possessions were taken over by an unenthusiastic Dutch government.
Dutch govt did not colonize RI on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
a. move from one place to another place
b. become
The common meaning of went is to move from one place to another place if we replace this meaning in the sentence, the sentence doesn’t make a sense. The
other meaning is to become because the word went is connected to bankrupt so the sentence means “It wasn’t until the early 19
th
century, after the VOC became bankrupt that its possessions were taken over by an unenthusiastic Dutch
government”.
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
7. …after the Voorlopers or “pelopors” in Indonesian were cornered
This letter informs us about Dutch government who did not colonize Indonesia. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word
cornered which has two meanings, they are: in
Yogyakarta by the KNIL. Dutch govt did not colonize RI on Tuesday,
March 3, 2009
a. put into a corner
b. surrounded
The word cornered has the common meaning to put into a corner because this meaning is often used and found in any conversation. By using this meaning,
the sentence means “After the Voorlopers or “pelopors” in Indonesian were put into a corner of Yogyakarta by the KNIL” while by using the other meaning
surrounded, the sentence is interpreted as “After the Voorlopers or “pelopors” in Indonesian were surrounded in Yogyakarta by the KNIL”.
8. In addition, Transjakarta is not designed to integrate with the Jabodetabek
railway networks, which actually are quite vast
This letter informs us about MRT system which hasn’t been integrated. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word vast. This word has
two meanings:
. When will MRT system be integrated? on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
a. very great b. very large in area
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Transjakarta is not designed to integrate with the Jabodetabek railway networks, which actually are
quite great” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Transjakarta is not designed to integrate with the Jabodetabek railway networks,
which actually are quite large”.
9. The goal of the first step is, in fact, just to explain the physical aspects and
how to conduct
The letter informs us about having a proper risk assessment as the first crucial step in disaster risk reduction efforts. This sentence is a kind of lexical
ambiguity because of the word conduct. This word has two meanings, as follow:
natural hazard analysis. On ‘Feeling better, doing worse?
on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
a. to manage b. to lead
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The goal of the first step is, in fact, just to explain the physical aspects and how to manage natural hazard
analysis” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The goal of the first step is, in fact, just to explain the physical aspects and how to lead natural
hazard analysis”.
10. Turkish airliner crash on Feb. 25 was another black day in the history of
aviation. Turkish airliner crash on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
This letter informs us about Turkish airliner crash. The above sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the noun phrase black day functioning as
noun. This phrase has two meanings: a.
day coloured black b.
mourning day The meaning of the noun phrase above is potentially ambiguous especially
to the people who just learn English. They can interpret that phrase by using the denotative meaning which is day coloured black. Of course, if we use this
meaning, we can’t get the sense of the sentence. But if they know another meaning of that phrase as mourning day, they will get the sense of the sentence
that the sentence is interpreted as “Turkish airliner crash on Feb. 25 was another mourning day in the history of aviation”.
11. The presenters
This letter informs us about insufficient East Flood Canal. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the noun presenters which has two different
meanings: at the conference did not challenge any government decision
related to the EFC. East Flood Canal is not enough on Wednesday,
March 4, 2009
a. people who present a radio or television program
b. people who attend
This noun has the common meaning as people who present a radio or television program. But if we read the sentence, we can conclude that the writer
doesn’t intend to interpret the meaning of presenters as the above. Actually the
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
writer of this letter wants to say that the “People who attend at the conference did not challenge any government decision related to the EFC”. This sentence above
is potentially ambiguous because the readers tend to interpret the word based on the common meaning.
12. In addition, guiding the civil society to better prepare for floods in order to reduce flood damage should be considered as another way to reduce it,
which is the ultimate
This letter informs us about insufficient East Flood Canal. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word ultimate. This word has two
meanings, they are:
goal of any flood management effort. East Flood Canal is not enough on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
a. last or final b. basic or fundamental
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Guiding the civil society to better prepare for floods in order to reduce flood damage is the final goal of any
flood management effort” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Guiding the civil society to better prepare for floods in order to reduce flood
damage is the basic goal of any flood management effort”.
13. It ended up with its chairman, Jusuf Kalla JK – after all the provincial chapters demanded it – stating his readiness to run as a presidential
candidate. Is JK-HNW pair possible? on Thursday, March 5, 2009
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
This letter informs us about the possibility of Jusuf Kalla and Hidayat Nur Wahid pairing. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the verb to
run which has meaning more than one meaning like: a.
to continue for the specified period of time b.
to stand Since people often use this word in any kinds of context, the writer gets the
different meanings from the verb to run which are to continue for the specified period of time and to stand. If we connect the first meaning to continue for the
specified period of time to the sentence, it means “All the provincial chapter from Golkar Party demands Jusuf Kalla to continue his steps as a presidential
candidate”. On the other hand, if the writer connects the second meaning to stand to the sentence, it means “All the provincial chapter from Golkar Party demands
Jusuf Kalla to stand a presidential candidate”.
14. Unfortunately, many engagements at my university in Chieti, Italy, where I am a full
This letter informs us about Borobudur which must be preserved. This sentence above is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the adjective full. This
adjective has two meanings, they are: professor of the history of art and president of the master’s
program in this subject, delayed my writing of this letter. Preserve Borobudur, please on Thurday, March 5, 2009
a. full of jobs
b. full of time busy
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
This word is common and has the multiply meanings so it tends to make one sentence expression is ambiguous. In this letter the writer doesn’t explain clearly
what is the meaning of the word full. This word can be interpreted as full of jobs or full of time busy. By the first meaning, the sentence means “Because the
writer has full of jobs as a professor of the history of art and president of the master’s program, he delays to write this letter”. And by the second meaning, the
sentence means “Because the writer works as a professor of the history of art and president of the master’s program, he has full of time busy on it so he delays to
write this letter”.
15. I suggest, however, all parties concerned, especially all the political parties in the House of representatives, review the law that was promulgated
This letter informs us about fragile Aceh Peace. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word promulgated. This word has two meanings,
as follow: after
the Helsinki Accord in 2005. Fragile security in Aceh on Friday, March 6,
2009
a. made the law widely known
b. proclaimed
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “All the political parties in the House of representatives, review the law that was made widely known after the
Helsinki Accord in 2005” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “All the political parties in the House of representatives, review the law that
was proclaimed after the Helsinki Accord in 2005”.
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
16. One verse in the Koran says to “avoid vain talk”, therefore I suggests Evan hold his tongue
This letter informs us about the difference between Malaysian Muslims and other Muslims. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word
tongue. This word has two meanings, they are:
. Don’t generalize abut Muslims on Friday, March 6,
2009
a. a language
b. a manner of speaking
In the first meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Evan should hold his language” while in the second meaning the sentence is interpreted as “Evan
should hold his manner of speaking”.
17. Of course, the correct thing to do was to file
This letter informs us about a Blue Bird driver urinating not in a right place. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the word file. This word
has two meanings, as follow: a complaint with Blue Bird,
which I did immediately. A shocking incident on Saturday, March 7,
2009
a. to place a complaint in order in a file
b. to send a complaint so that it can be officially recorded
In the first meaning the sentence may be interpreted as “The correct thing to do was to place a complaint in order in a file of Blue Bird” while in the second
meaning the sentence is interpreted as “The correct thing to do was to send a complaint with Blue Bird”.
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
18. The dispute
This letter informs us about Ahmadiyah way in order not to use any Islamic terminology. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the noun
dispute. This noun has two meanings: is, in fact, about the interpretation of Surah Al-Ahzab verse 40;
Ahmadiyah interpretation of it is supported by the Arabic lexicon and
Arabic usage. Let’s agree to disagree on Ahmadiyah on Wednesday,
March 11, 2009
a. argument and discussion
b. disagreement
If we attach the first meaning into the sentence, the sentence will be interpreted as “The argument and discussion is, in fact, about the interpretation of
Surah Al-Ahzab verse 40; Ahmadiyah interpretation of it is supported by the Arabic lexicon and Arabic usage” while if we attach the second meaning into the
sentence, the sentence will be interpreted as “The disagreement is, in fact, about the interpretation of Surah Al-Ahzab verse 40; Ahmadiyah interpretation of it is
supported by the Arabic lexicon and Arabic usage”.
19. I hope this proverb finds “open ears
This letter informs us about the position of women in Indonesian parliament. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the phrase
open ears functioning as noun. This phrase has more than one meaning, as follow:
” A wake-up call to all men on
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
a. Ears which is opening
b. Realization
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
The meaning of the noun phrase above is potentially ambiguous because the writer uses the particular term. The reader can interpret that phrase by using the
denotative meaning which is ears which is opening. Of course, if we use this meaning, we can’t get the sense of the sentence. But if they know another
meaning of that phrase as realization, they will get the sense of the sentence that the sentence is interpreted as “I hope this proverb finds “realization”.
20. What bothers
This letter informs us about the misuse of the Indonesian words fundamentalis and teroris. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of
the verb bothers. This verb has more than one meaning:
me is his argument. Fundamentalism is always wrong on
Thursday, March 12, 2009
a. annoyance to somebody
b. worries somebody
If we attach the first meaning into the sentence, the sentence will be interpreted as “What annoyance to me is his argument” while if we attach the
second meaning into the sentence, the sentence will be interpreted as “What worries me is his argument”.
21. They are not designed to encourage students to be critical, compassionate or
even down to earth. Company’s role in imperialism on Thursday, March
12, 2009
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
This letter informs us about company’s role in imperialism. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of adjective down to earth. This adjective has
more than one meaning: a.
sensible b.
realistic If we attach the first meaning into the sentence, the sentence will be
interpreted “They are not designed to encourage students to be critical, compassionate or even sensible” while if we attach the second meaning into the
sentence, the sentence will be interpreted “They are not designed to encourage students to be critical, compassionate or even realistic”.
22. The misery and the spirit are real and genuine. ‘Slumdog’ upsets rich Indians on Saturday, march 14, 2009
This letter informs us about if ‘Slumdog’ deserves Oscars. This sentence is a kind of lexical ambiguity because of the adjective genuine. This adjective has two
meanings, they are: a.
truly b.
sincere If we attach the first meaning into the sentence, the sentence is interpreted as
“The misery and the spirit are real and truly” while if we attach the second meaning into the sentence, the sentence will be interpreted as “The misery and the
spirit are real and sincere”.
Henny Andriani Tambunan : The Analysis Of Lexical And Structural Ambiguity In Your Letters Of The Jakarta Post , 2009.
