1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background Of Study
Semantic is one of the important branches of linguistic, and deals with
interpretation and meaning of the words, sentence, structure, and symbols. It deals with
the reading comprehension of the readers, in how they understand others and their
interpretations. In addition, semantics construct a relation between adjoining words and
clarifies the sense of sentence, whether the meanings of words are literal or figurative.
Communication is something that important for daily life of human. But sometimes in
communication we have a different interpretation about the expression of other people.
This case often occur both in oral and written communication. So that, it will occur of
misunderstanding in communication. Which is called by ambiguity.
Here semantic have relationship that there exist between the meaning of words,
between the meaning of phrase, or between the meaning of sentences. Ambiguity here
is the relationship of semantic relationship at phrase or sentence level, ambiguity occurs
when a sentence has more than one meaning. Ambiguity can be caused by the
ambiguous lexicon in which one word has more than one meaning and it can also be
caused because of the way the sentence is structure or syntactic. The context also
determines whether the sentence can be interpreted differently and become ambiguous.
Ambiguity often causes confusion, and has become one of the phenomena in language
studies, especially semantic.
B. Problems
1. What is the definition of ambiguity?
2. What are the types of ambiguity?
3. What are the factors which caused of ambiguity?
C. Purpose
1. To know what is the definition of ambiguity.
2. To know what are the types of ambiguity.
3. To know what are factors which caused of ambiguity.
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CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. The Definition Of Ambiguity
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one
meaning. A word or sentence is ambiguous if it can be interpreted in more than one
way. Ambiguity is a situation in which something meaning and may therefore cause
confusion. Ambiguity is a condition that can arise in anyway. Ambiguity is property
of word or sentences of having two or more meaning.1 Doubling of meaning in
spoken can be caused by the phonetic structure of sentences. Ambiguity also can
caused by the grammatical form or in sentence structure. According to
Dajajasudarma, ambiguity is divided into three kinds namely, phonetic ambiguity,
grammatical ambiguity and lexical ambiguity.2
B. Types Of Ambiguity
1. Phonetic ambiguity
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one
meaning. A word or sentence is ambiguous if it can be interpreted in more than
one way. Ambiguity is a situation in which something meaning and may
therefore cause confusion. Ambiguity is a condition that can arise in anyway.
Phonetic ambiguity often results in miscommunication. For example in
Indonesia is bakmi, what is mean is kind of food which called bakmi or bak mi
which mean mi? And when someone who said kera apa, what is mean is kera
apa or kerap apa?
2. Grammatical ambiguity
Grammatical ambiguity is the ambiguity that usually appears in a
sentence or phrase. In grammatical ambiguity it can see from three aspect.
Namely, for the first is ambiguity which caused by grammatical word
formation, like prefix and suffix. Suffix of –able, suffix of able not always has
same meaning like desirable, readable, eatable, knowable, debatable. As well
as with prefix -in which caused meaning of into, within, towards, upon, for
example of word indent which has meaning memasukkan, but also has meaning
lekuk. The second is ambiguity in similar phrase. Each of word which forming

1
t.p. Language Files, (Department of Linguistic The Ohio State University: Ohio State University Press
Columbus, 1991), page. 453.
2
Sumarti, Semantik Sebuah Pengantar, (Yogyakarta: TEXTIUM, 2017), page. 65.
 3

phrase actually is clear, but the combination which caused the meaning able to
interpreted more than one sense. For example is I meet a number of old friends
and acquaintance. Saya bertemu dengan sejumlah teman lama dan kenalan. In
this sentence is ambiguity because the meaning of old word whether refers to
the friends or acquaintance. And the phrase of orang-tua. Can have more than
one meaning as father and mother and old person.3
3. Lexical ambiguity
Lexical ambiguity is a situation in which a lexical item has two or more
meanings.4 Lexical ambiguity is that some sentences exhibit when they contain
words that can be interpreted in more one way (those words are either
homonymy or polysemy words. Example:
a. We can fish. Can refers to able to have the ability to do something and
refers to preserve food, fruit, liquid, and etc. by putting them in a sealed
can. (homonymy)
b. Look at the spring. Spring refers to season of the year, a coiled piece of
metal and a source of water. (homonymy)
c. The cranes are here. Crane refers to a large machine or device with a long
arm which is used to lift and move heavy weights at construction site. And
a large bird with long legs and a long neck. (polysemy)5
C. Factors Which Caused Of Ambiguity
1. Morphology
The ambiguity which occur caused by the form itself.
Example: The candy swallowed by young brother.
This sentence cause ambiguity, whether the candy deliberate swallowed or the
candy finally swallowed.
2. Syntax
The ambiguity occur caused arrange of word that has not clear.
Example: They live in the pen.
Pen refers to writing tool and pen which refers to cage of pig.

3
Mansoer Pateda, Semantik Leksikal, (Jakarta: RINEKA CIPTA, 2010), page. 203-204.
4
t.p. Language Files. Page. 460.
5
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://webdelprofesor.ula.ve/humanidades/azapata
accessed on 3 November 2019 at 08. 50.
 4

3. Structural
This ambiguity occur caused the structure of sentence itself.
Example: Reni and Rena is are best friend. She is love her husband.
The sentence there is ambiguity because the word “she” can refers to Reni or
Rena.6

6
http://seputarilmu.com/2019/01/kalimat-ambigu.ttml accessed on 3 November 2019 at 09.10.
 5

CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION

A. Conclusion
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one
meaning. A word or sentence is ambiguous if it can be interpreted in more than one
way. Ambiguity is a situation in which something meaning and may therefore cause
confusion. Ambiguity is a condition that can arise in anyway.
Types of Ambiguity Phonetic ambiguity is the Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or
statement which contains more than one meaning. A word or sentence is ambiguous if
it can be interpreted in more than one way. Ambiguity is a situation in which something
meaning and may therefore cause confusion. Ambiguity is a condition that can arise in
anyway. Phonetic ambiguity often results in miscommunication. Grammatical
ambiguity is the ambiguity that usually appears in a sentence or phrase. In grammatical
ambiguity it can see from three aspect. Namely, for the first is ambiguity which caused
by grammatical word formation, like prefix and suffix. Lexical ambiguity is that some
sentences exhibit when they contain words that can be interpreted in more one way.
Factors which caused of ambiguity there are Morphology is the ambiguity
which occur caused by the form itself. Syntax is the ambiguity occur caused arrange of
word that has not clear. Structural is the ambiguity occur caused the structure of
sentence itself.
B. Suggestion
The writers realize that our paper is not perfect. So that we need any suggestion
either from lecturers or audiences to make our writing better than before. Because we
are as amateur institute students really need correction in making this paper to make it
clearer in the next task.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pateda, Mansoer. Semantik Leksikal. Jakarta: RINEKA CIPTA, 2010.
Sumarti, Semantik Sebuah Pengantar. Yogyakarta: TEXTIUM, 2017.
t.p. Language Files, Department of Linguistic The Ohio State University: Ohio State
University Press Columbus, 1991.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://webdelprofesor.ula.v
e/humanidades/azapata
http://seputarilmu.com/2019/01/kalimat-ambigu.ttml