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HM 8-1 Chomsky developed phrase-structure rules and transformational rules of grammar. Phrase-structure rules specify how we can combine words into phrases and sentences and thus may be helpful in deciphering the meaning of sentences. Much interesting work has been done with ambiguous sentences; phrase-structure rules can sometimes be used to distinguish the meanings.
HM 8-1 For example, consider “They are flying planes.” One interpretation refers to some people who are engaged in the act of flying planes; flying is part of the verb phrase. The second interpretation refers to some planes that are currently being flown; flying is now an adjective describing the planes. Phrase-structure rules can clarify the two meanings because of the verb-adjective distinction.
HM 8-1 The simplest kind of ambiguity is lexical ambiguity. This occurs when one word in a sentence yields two or more meanings and hence two or more underlying representation. For example, • California is a great state to live in despite its faults. • There is a fork in the road ahead.
HM 8-1 The two meanings of fault and fork lead to two different interpretations of these sentences. If you keep your mind limber, you will find similar examples almost daily. Consider these: • To a waiter: “Do you have frog legs?” • Newspaper name: The Chattanooga News-Free Press • One of the more gruesome examples, “He shot off his mouth,” is so grisly you can hardly bear it.
HM 8-1 The pun is a popular form of lexical ambiguity, though the surface structure for the pun often differs slightly for the two meaning, as shown in these examples by Bennett Cerf: • And then there was the fellow who inherited 392 clocks and is now winding up the estate. • A Texan down the range is suing for a divorce. He found his dear and an interloper playing. • Then there was the seashore eccentric who spent all his time throwing rocks at gulls. He left no tern unstoned.
HM 8-1 A second level of ambiguity embraces units larger than the word and permits two or more entirely different interpretations of the same surface structures. For examples, • The car was stopped by the tree can mean The tree blocked the movement of the car or The car was parked alongside the tree. Similarly, there are two very different underlying representation for • The magician made the prince a frog.
HM 8-1 Students of ours have found at least eight meanings for • Jane reports that her neighbor had her second car stolen. Two of these are a. Jane’s neighbor was the victim of car theft for a second time. b. Jane’s neighbor arranged the theft of Jane’s old family jalopy.
HM 8-1 How many meanings do you find for the following sentences? • The police were ordered to stop drinking at midnight. • She missed the boat. • Norman Rockwell painted me on his front porch.
