ambiguous

The adjective ambiguous, which has its etymological root in the Latin word ambiguous, is used to qualify that which does not have a single meaning or meaning, that can be interpreted in different ways or that generates confusion.

For example: "The official candidate's speech was ambiguous: analysts expected sharper definitions", "I think the judicial resolution is somewhat ambiguous", “I don't understand why you always have to be so ambiguous; I am simply asking you if you are on my side or his ”.

If we focus on linguistics, the ambiguous is what gives rise to multiple interpretations and that, therefore, can cause confusion or questions. This ambiguity may arise due to semantic aspects, due to the syntax or by other factors.

A prayer ambiguous is the following: "Ricardo saw Daniel drunk and didn't know what to say". This phrase could refer to Daniel I was drunk when Richard found it, or else the alcoholic was himself Richard, since the adjective has the appropriate gender and number for both the subject (Ricardo) and the object (Daniel), and there is not enough context to know which of the two it modifies.

The homonymy, which implies the existence of words with the same form and different meaning, can also lead to ambiguity. "There is no cure in this place" is an ambiguous phrase: it may refer to the fact that in a particular place there is no priest (although this may surprise the sender or the interlocutor), or that in that place there is no solution for a particular problem.

It is important to note that ambiguity can be used consciously to confuse the interlocutor, or to avoid revealing certain data in a conversation. In this case, we are faced with a positive and beneficial use of ambiguous language, although it is not always satisfactory for those who receive it.

If we are in the context of a conference about the launch of a revolutionary electronic device, for example, the normal thing is that the company that presents it does not make public all its characteristics, either due to the desire to wait for the consumers themselves find out once they get their hands on it or to reduce the chances of competitors stealing your ideas. When faced with a question related to the technical specifications of the product, company representatives can appeal to ambiguity to protect their information without being rude.

For example, if the question were “I have noticed that your new console can handle hundreds of photos in real time; Does this speak to the compression and decompression capabilities of the device? ", the ambiguous answer could be “As you know, we are facing a new step in the path of technological advances, and that is why it should not surprise you that our device has exceptional performance, whether in the handling of images as in all other areas ».

Of course he language Ambiguous can also be annoying or even unproductive, if the lack of information is unnecessary and causes communication problems in a work team. In certain environments, such as medicine or computer science, where precision is essential for safety and good performance, ambiguity must be avoided by all means in the pursuit of clear and direct language.

Who it is not defined through its expressions or actions, is also qualified as ambiguous. If you ask an ambiguous journalist which team will win the next Spanish tournament of football, can you reply: "Barcelona is doing very well, but Real Madrid has a great team and Atlético de Madrid is going through an excellent moment".