Answer the following questions. Your answers should be clear and short.Can you determine the meaning of the words in bold type in each of the following sentences? Explain and make some alterations in the context so as to pin down the meaning. (a) They saw her duck. (b) The ball was attractive.
THE AMBIGUITY HERE IS CAUSED BY HOMONYMY.
(A) DUCK CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS A NOUN MEANING A “KIND OF POULTRY” OR AS A VERB MEANING “LOWER ONE’S HEAD OR BODY QUICKLY, DODGE”, THIS AMBIGUITY CAN BE ELIMINATED BY ALTERING THE CONTEXT A LITTLE AS “THEY SAW HER DUCK SWIMMING IN THE RIVER.”
(B) BALL MAY MEAN A “ROUND OBJECT TO PLAY IN A GAME” AS WELL AS A “DANCING PARTY”. THIS AMBIGUITY CAN BE ELIMINATED BY ALTERING THE CONTEXT A LITTLE AS “THE BALL WAS ATTRACTIVE WITH NICE MUSIC AND A LOT OF PEOPLE”.
