ISSN: 2305-3623 (Print), ISSN: 2305-8463 (Online)

Published By: MECS Press

IJEME Vol.2, No.10, Oct. 2012

This thesis will talk about ambiguity by classifying it into sound ambiguity and meaning ambiguity. In the first part, the author will discuss the theories in ambiguity namely the Q-and R-principle and IC-analysis which are the most basic and important in the analysis of ambiguity. In the following part, the author will analyze the sound ambiguity and meaning ambiguity in detail. Polysemy and homonymy are the main causes of sound ambiguity. Culture and context are the main causes of meaning ambiguity. And in the last part the author will discuss the advantage and disadvantage of ambiguity. Ambiguity can be seen as a sword that has two blades. The positive side should be studied to make the language becomes more interesting and vivid. The negative side should be avoided to make the writing or speech more accurate.

Congying Liu,"The Linguistic Analysis of Sound Ambiguity and Meaning Ambiguity", IJEME, vol.2, no.10, pp.39-44, 2012.

[1] A S Hornby, Sally Wehmeier. Oxford Advanced Learner‟s English and Chinese Dictionary [M]. Beijing: Oxford University Press& The Commercial Press, 2004.

[2] Jack C.Richards, Richard Schmidt, Heidi Kendrick, Youngkyu Kim. Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2005.

[3] Qi Hui. Study on Pragmatic Functions of Ambiguity [MA]. Southeast University, 2006.03.

[4] R.H.Robins. A Short History of Linguistics [M]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2001.

[5] Rao Shuangyan. A Pragmatic Study of Intentional Ambiguity [MA]. Shanghai International Studies University, 2008.12.