The role of ambiguity and vagueness in language change
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F25%3AYRJUM688" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/25:YRJUM688 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns.347.02mag" target="_blank" >https://benjamins.com/catalog/pbns.347.02mag</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/pbns.347.02mag" target="_blank" >10.1075/pbns.347.02mag</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
The role of ambiguity and vagueness in language change
Original language description
In linguistic research, the concepts of ambiguity and vagueness are often confused and frequently invoked to describe synchronic facts and explain diachronic processes. This article illustrates the differences and similarities between the two phenomena, defines their position within the domain of semantic indeterminacy, and discusses their role in linguistic change. The examples show that while ambiguity is intertwined with various mechanisms of change, acting as both a source and a product of innovation, vagueness plays a marginal role, being mainly a side effect of ongoing change or a tool of communicative strategies of vague language. Moreover, intentional vagueness usually promotes speaker-driven innovations, whereas ambiguity can trigger hearer-driven changes that unfold broader diachronic scenarios.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
C - Chapter in a specialist book
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10201 - Computer sciences, information science, bioinformathics (hardware development to be 2.2, social aspect to be 5.8)
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
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Others
Publication year
2024
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Book/collection name
Vagueness, Ambiguity, and All the Rest: Linguistic and pragmatic approaches
ISBN
978-90-272-4656-1
Number of pages of the result
19
Pages from-to
10-28
Number of pages of the book
286
Publisher name
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Place of publication
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UT code for WoS chapter
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