Ambiguity In English Language Essay

In a taxonomy proposed by Ross (2005), five levels of structural ambiguity in English language are identified and their realization in English jokes is discussed. These levels include phonology, graphology, morphology, lexis, and syntax.

The first level, i.e. phonology, concerns the ambiguity caused by homophones, words with slight difference in their sounds, changes in sounds that occur during connected speech, changes in stress or intonation, etc. This type of ambiguity occurs only in spoken language. In the example

¬Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine. the hearer may think of the term insane instead of the Seine river in Paris (Hempelmann, 2008, pp. 342-343). The ambiguity at the level of graphology is only observed in written form, such as misspellings that result in a change of

From this point of view, audience is an important part of humorous discourse, because laughter or appreciation is needed to save the joke teller 's face on the one hand, and recognition and understanding are necessary to save the hearer 's own face on the

She discusses the necessity of understanding science-related jokes for science students as part of their identity, especially for those who plan to stay in the field. Hence, when hearers do not find a joke funny, they may use different strategies and expressions to prove that their lack of appreciation is not due to failure in recognition or understanding. Explicit statements such as "That 's not very funny", ironic ones such as "Very funny", or a board "ha ha such wit", and sometimes silence are among the strategies that may be employed by a hearer who withholds appreciation (Hay, 2001, pp.