Lexical Ambiguity Definition and Examples

Lexical Ambiguity Definition and Examples Lexical ambiguity is the presence of two or more possible meanings for a single word. Its also called semantic ambiguity or  homonymy. It differs from syntactic ambiguity, which is the presence of two or more possible meanings within a sentence or sequence of words. Lexical ambiguity is sometimes used deliberately to create puns and other types of wordplay. According to the editors of the  MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences, True  lexical ambiguity is  typically distinguished from polysemy (e.g., the N.Y. Times as in this mornings edition of the newspaper versus the company that publishes the newspaper) or from vagueness (e.g., cut as in cut the lawn or cut the cloth), though the boundaries can be fuzzy. Examples and Observations You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen; it said, Parking Fine. So that was nice.(English comedian Tim Vine)Do you believe in clubs for young people? someone asked W.C. Fields. Only when kindness fails, replied Fields.(Quoted by Graeme Ritchie in The Linguistic Analysis of Jokes)Donald Ressler: The third guard, hes in the hospital. Berlin cut his hand off.Aram Mojtabai: No, no. Its a lexical ambiguity. He cut his hand off.Elizabeth Keen: Berlin cut off his own hand?(Berlin: Conclusion, The Blacklist, May 12, 2014)Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend; inside its too hard to read.(Groucho Marx)The rabbi married my sister.She is looking for a match.The fisherman went to the bank.I have a really nice stepladder. Sadly, I never knew my real ladder.(English comedian Harry Hill) Context [C]ontext is highly relevant to this part of the meaning of utterances. . . . For example, They passed the port at midnight is lexically ambiguous. However, it would normally be clear in a given context which of the two homonyms, port (harbor) or port (kind of fortified wine), is being used- and also which sense of the polysemous verb pass is intended. (John Lyons, Linguistic Semantics: An Introduction) Characteristics The following example, taken from Johnson-Laird (1983), illustrates two important characteristics of lexical ambiguity: The plane banked just before landing, but then the pilot lost control. The strip on the field runs for only the barest of yards and the plane just twisted out of the turn before shooting into the ground. First, that this passage is not particularly difficult to understand in spite of the fact that all of its content words are ambiguous suggests that ambiguity is unlikely to invoke special resource-demanding processing mechanisms but rather is handled as a byproduct of normal comprehension. Second, there are a number of ways in which a word can be ambiguous. The word plane, for example, has several noun meanings, and it can also be used as a verb. The word twisted could be an adjective and is also morphologically ambiguous between the past tense and participial forms of the verb to twist. (Patrizia Tabossi, Semantic Effects on Syntactic Ambiguity Resolution in Attention and Performance XV, edited by C. Umilt and M. Moscovitch) Processing Words Depending on the relationship among the alternative meanings available for a particular word form, lexical ambiguity has been categorized as either polysemous, when meanings are related, or homonymous, when unrelated. Although ambiguity is graded, for words that are at one or the other end of this spectrum and thus are easy to classify, polysemy and homonymy have been shown to have differing effects on reading behaviors. Whereas related meanings have been shown to facilitate word recognition, unrelated meanings have been found to slow processing times ... (Chia-lin Lee and Kara D. Federmeier, In a Word: ERPs Reveal Important Lexical Variables for Visual Word Processing in The Handbook of the Neuropsychology of Language, edited by Miriam Faust)

John Jacob Astor - Biography of Richest American

John Jacob Astor - Biography of Richest American John Jacob Astor was the wealthiest man in America in the early 19th century, and when he died in 1848 his fortune was estimated to be at least $20 million, an astounding sum for the time. Astor had arrived in America as a poor German immigrant, and his determination and business sense led him to eventually create a monopoly in the fur trade. He diversified into real estate in New York City, and his fortune increased as the city grew. Early Life John Jacob Astor was born on July 17, 1763 in the village of Waldorf, in Germany. His father was a butcher, and as a boy John Jacob would accompany him to jobs butchering cattle. While a teenager, Astor earned enough money at various jobs in Germany to enable him to relocate to London, where an older brother was living. He spent three years in England, learning the language and picking up any information he could about his ultimate destination, the North American colonies which were rebelling against Britain. In 1783, after the Treaty of Paris formally ended the Revolutionary War, Astor decided to sail to the young nation of the United States. Astor left England in November 1783, having bought musical instruments, seven flutes, which he intended to sell in America. His ship reached the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in January 1784, but the ship became stuck in ice and it would be two months before it was safe for the passengers to land. Chance Encounter Led to Learning About the Fur Trade While languishing aboard ship, Astor met a fellow passenger who had traded for furs with the Indians in North America. Legend has it that Astor quizzed the man extensively on the details of fur trading, and by the time he set foot on American soil Astor had resolved to enter the fur business. John Jacob Astor eventually reached New York City, where another brother was living, in March 1784. By some accounts, he did enter the fur trade almost immediately and soon returned to London to sell a shipment of furs. By 1786 Astor had opened a small shop on Water Street in lower Manhattan, and throughout the 1790s he kept expanding his fur business. He was soon exporting furs to London and to China, which was emerging as a huge market for the pelts of American beavers. By 1800 it was estimated that Astor had amassed nearly a quarter of a million dollars, a considerable fortune for the time. Astors Business Continued to Grow After the Lewis and Clark Expedition returned from the Northwest in 1806 Astor realized he could expand into the vast territories of the Louisiana Purchase. And, it should be noted, the official reason for Lewis and Clarks voyage was to help the American fur trade expand. In 1808 Astor combined a number of his business interests into the American Fur Company. Astors company, with trading posts throughout the Midwest and Northwest, would monopolize the fur business for decades, at a time when beaver hats were considered the height of fashion in America and Europe. In 1811 Astor financed an expedition to the coast of Oregon, where his employees founded Fort Astoria, an outpost at the mouth of the Columbia River. It was the first permanent American settlement on the Pacific Coast, but it was destined to fail due to various hardships and the War of 1812. Fort Astoria eventually passed into British hands. While the war doomed Fort Astoria, Astor made money in the final year of the war by helping the United States government finance its operations. Later critics, including the legendary editor Horace Greeley, accused him of having profiteered in war bonds. Astor Accumulated Vast Real Estate Holdings In the first decade of the 19th century Astor had realized that New York City would continue to grow, and he began buying up real estate in Manhattan. He amassed vast property holdings in New York and the surrounding area. Astor would eventually be called the citys landlord. Having grown tired of the fur trade, and realizing it was too vulnerable to changes in fashion, Astor sold all his interests in the fur business in June 1834. He then concentrated on real estate, while also dabbling in philanthropy. Legacy of John Jacob Astor John Jacob Astor died, at the age of 84, in his house in New York City on March 29, 1848. He was by far the richest man in America. It was estimated that Astor had a fortune of at least $20 million, and he is generally considered the first American multimillionaire. Most of his fortune was left to his son William Backhouse Astor, who continued to administer the family business and philanthropic endeavors. John Jacob Astors will also included a bequest for a public library. The Astor Library was for many years an institution in New York City, and its collection became the foundation for the New York Public Library. A number of American towns were named for John Jacob Astor, including Astoria, Oregon, the site of Fort Astoria. New Yorkers know the Astor Place subway stop in lower Manhattan, and there is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens called Astoria. Perhaps the most famous instance of the Astor name is the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. John Jacob Astors grandsons, who were feuding in the 1890s, opened two lavish hotels in New York City, the Astoria, named for the family, and the Waldorf, named for John Jacob Astors native village in Germany. The hotels, which were located at the present site of the Empire State Building, were later combined into the Waldorf-Astoria. The name lives on with the current Waldorf-Astoria on Park Avenue in New York City. Gratitude is expressed to the New York Public Library Digital Collections for the illustration of John Jacob Astor.

Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln Essay

Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln - Essay Example Although the emancipation proclamation was intended to set free the slaves in the country, the decree did not immediately grant the freed persons automatic citizenship and subsequent rights. One of the immediate repercussions of the proclamation was the loss of property especially in the southern states that relied heavily on slaves for labor in the agricultural farms and plantations. The property owners were not compensated an outcome that elicited legal objection because it was unconstitutional and an abuse of power by the executive upon the American citizens (Burrus, 27) Burrus (34) traces the drafting of emancipation proclamation to Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts. According to Burrus, Senator Charles Sumner was a prominent republican, whose zealous opposition to slavery and firm political conviction endeared him to President Abraham Lincoln. The progress of the confederate army to Fort Sumter became a matter of outmost concern to the senator and he urged the president to invoke the powers bestowed upon him by the US constitution as the commander in chief of the army and the navy (55). Allen(72),argues that the senator reasoned that as the commander in chief of the United States military, the president had the authority to contain the rebel states using any method necessary, including ordering the release of all slaves in the confederates’ possession. However, the president had earlier declared that he did not intend to interfere with slavery in states that still upheld the practice, especially in the south (Franklin, 37). The president’s declaration to maintain the status quo was mainly motivated by the conviction that he did not have legal grounds for taking such action (Burrus, 42). Senator Sumner’s assertion that the president could use his powers was based on the arguments of former president, John Quincy Adams who had earlier declared that laws of war permitted army commanders to liberate slaves in a territory that had bee n invaded by an enemy (Burrus, 95). This assertion therefore permitted the commander in chief of the country and the American government by extension to undertake military intervention inside and outside the United States territory. Allen (84) argues that these developments formed the basis of the â€Å"law of war† that gives the president constitutional right to take any action necessary during times of war for the interests of the country. In spite of the debate about the legality of the emancipation proclamation, it definitely accorded the union army the motivation to triumph over the confederates in the civil war. Franklin argues that president Abraham Lincoln did not have the intention of having the proclamation entrenched in the United States constitution. However, in 1865, declarations contained in the emancipation proclamation were included the country’s constitution, in the Thirteenth Amendment (90). After declaration of the emancipation proclamation, immediat e impacts were noted in the military structure of the confederates that had largely restricted the role of slaves to non-combat duties during the civil war. Shortly after the proclamation, many slaves were released in the Union controlled territories such as North Carolina during the battle. The Confederate army encountered large-scale desertions by the blacks, denying it much

Golan Heights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Golan Heights - Research Paper Example This assignment will take a look at what the Golan Heights are and what the significance of this area is. A brief historical overview of who has occupied the Golan Heights will be given in order to further understand the history and value of this area. An analysis of the conflict between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights will be given, as well as the various attempts at resolving the conflict. Finally, it will be determined how the issue stands today and what the future for this dispute may hold. 2. THE GOLAN HEIGHTS The Golan Heights is a plateau region of 1800 sq km on the border of Israel and Syria. Its highest point is Mount Hermon in the north which is 2800 metres high and it reaches below sea level in the south on the Sea of Galilee. Israel occupies 1200 sq km of the area; although, it is recognised as Syrian land. There are 41 Israeli settlements in the Israeli occupied zone and approximately 19100 Israelis living there. Over twenty thousand Syrians live in the area; mos tly they are of the Druze sect. [cia world fact book, 2011] The Golan Heights is known for its rich farming land, as well as abundant water supplies which include the headwaters of the Jordan River, the Baniyas Springs and the Yarmuk River. The water from this area makes up 30% of Israel’s total fresh water supply. ... Between the third and second millennium B.C. the Amorites inhabited the region until the Arameans conquered the land. Biblical references indicate that the Golan Heights were then seized from the Amaraens by the Israelites and settled by the Manasseh tribe in 800 B.C. During the next centuries the Heights were conquered by first the Assyrians, then the Babylonian empire and then by the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great also took control over the heights before it finally fell into Roman hands. During the Roman era, the Heights were periodically given to the Syrian province then traded to Israel again. In 636 A.D. the Arabs took over the Golan Heights after the battle of Yarmouk and remained under Muslim rule for many centuries; although it did fall under various dynasties during this time. The Golan Heights was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire between 1516 until the end of World War I, after which it passed to France’s rule on a mandate of the League of Nations. Syria re ceived its independence in 1944 and the Golan Heights were officially a part of the country. [Golan Sights, 2009] From this turbulent history it can be seen how important the Heights were deemed to be over the years. Thus, it is not surprising that conflict over the region still rages. 4. THE CONFLICT Conflict over the Golan Heights began almost immediately after the withdrawal of the European mandatory forces. War broke out between Syria and Israel between 1948 and 1949. At the end of the war, the two sides agreed to partly demilitarize the Golan Heights within accordance of the Syria-Israel Armistice Agreement. However, both sides violated the agreement; with Israel attempting to use water from the Jordan River in the demilitarized zone and both countries sending raids into

Organization's Market Orientation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organization's Market Orientation - Assignment Example Market orientation and organizational performance are linked and a critical evaluation is provided for firms which are not market oriented such as M&S yet perform well and recommendations are provided for firms which don't perform well. The importance and characteristics of market orientation are studied along with the barriers to market orientation, how to overcome these barriers, the importance of change management and policies in human resource management, the attributes of internal marketing, quality systems and customer relationship management. The theories and applications of market orientation are also studied using examples of the large companies such as Virgin and M&S. Adoption of market orientation could motivate companies to provide better service provisions and quality and Green et al (2007) argued that within an organization, customer care is primarily important and marketing orientation helps in understanding the needs of customers. By satisfactorily identifying customer needs, organizations could provide quality services that would highlight the positive links between market orientation and service quality. In another related study, Racela et al (2007) show the market orientation in international business relationships with emphasis on cooperation, dependence and relationship distance between organizations or individuals. A survey of Thai exporting firms was done considering business units and Thai export firms. The results obtained from more than 200 firms show that export market orientation of companies enhances cooperation between exporters and distributors and export performance is higher with greater export cooperation and lower relationship distance. The influence of exporter dependence on export performance tends to vary among industry groups. Market orientation is thus essential to the development of business to business relationships that enhances export performance and shows how exporters could manage their relationships to achieve better performance. Marketing orientation is thus helpful in developing cooperative efforts and Racela et al (2007) recommended that overseas dist ributors develop cooperative norms for marketing decisions and actions and also establish some form of mutual dependence for superior performance enhancement. The relationships between market orientation, export performance and behavioral aspects of business relationships are investigated and the paper suggests that market orientation practices help in enhancing cross cultural relationships.A multilayered model of market oriented organizational culture tends to distinguish between market oriented values and norms. The different aspects of market oriented culture within organizations can affect attitudes and behaviors of the sales force and market orientation values can have a substantial impact on role conflict, role ambiguity, job satisfaction and organizational commitment of such employees (Farrell, 2005). However market oriented norms do not substantially affect customer orientation of salespersons. Considering these background studies, we can analyze whether a specific chosen company has adequate market orientatio

China-home for Apple or Samsung Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

China-home for Apple or Samsung - Research Paper Example The age of consumerism has accentuated the need for business organizations to ensure distinction between products and services so as to emerge successful in the competitive and turbulent business market. A section would also be devoted towards analysing the ethical aspects in marketing communication. Thereafter a primary study would also be conducted to analyse the consumer behaviour of the target market audience so as to finally conclude the study and suggest a set of plausible recommendations for the company so as to ensure sustainable competitive advantage in the lucrative Chinese consumer market. Introduction The era of globalisation has opened up a plethora of opportunities for business organizations. The emergence of new markets like Russia and China has opened up opportunities in a market where the traditional markets like Europe and USA are getting saturated beyond limits. However in order to make a successful international expansion it is very necessary to have a well knit business plan so as to effectively capture the market. Marketing communication plays a very significant role in this regard. This is because of the fact that marketing communications are the only source where the company conveys its intended message to the target market audience. In case of new markets this assumes even more significance as the positioning and image of the brand is largely developed as a result of marketing communication strategy used by the company. The present study would analyse the integrated marketing communication strategy for Apple for its proposed expansion into the Chinese market. The choi ce of the organization and the market assumes significance considering the fact that Apple is one of the most dominant brands and China is the fastest growing market in the world. Market and Literature Review Apple is one of the most repute brands and has been constantly rated among the top brands by leading agencies like Forbes and Fortune (Forbes, 2011). The company’s USP in the market is focussed on its innovative abilities to design new products. The company heavily relies on both internal as well as external communications to drive its products in the market (O'Grady, 2008, p.42). Apple is known to have a communications strategy that involves creation of a buzz while launching a new product or entering a market. The company strives on creating a ‘wow’ factor around the launch of a product. This was evident from the fact that long queues where observed during launch of iPods (ICMR, 2008). Apple’s competitor Samsung on the other hand relies on sponsorsh ips and advertisements on print and electronic media to communicate its message to the target market audience. The pricing of its products are also more competitive as compared to Apple. The product strategy of Apple is largely based on the aspect of innovation and uniqueness in design and features. Apple relies on cult based marketing in which the customers constitute a loyal lot and undertake measures to protect the brand and company. The company believes in turning customers into followers so as to generate loyalty and promote the brand in the market.

Analyze whether a dollar depreciation will improve the U.S. current Essay

Analyze whether a dollar depreciation will improve the U.S. current account deficit - Essay Example In other words, a nation is said to have a trade deficit if it is imports more than it exports. Such a situation will make  a country a net debtor to the rest of the world. However, in some cases current account deficit may not necessarily a bad thing for the developing countries. Current account deficits will encourage the developing countries to increase its local productivity which will be useful for that country in the long run. According to the statistics available for 2004-2005, U.S. holdings of foreign assets are around $ 8 trillion whereas foreign holdings of U.S. assets are around $ 10.7 trillion (Blanchard, n. d.p.6). In other words, United States is a debtor to foreign countries. The situation became worst in recent times because of the global financial crisis and the subsequent dipping US economy. The exchange value of U.S. dollar is a major parameter in increasing or decreasing the current account deficit of United States. When the exchange rates of US dollar increases , the current account deficits will also increase and when the exchange rates of U.S. dollar decreases, the current account deficits will also decreases. In other words, current account rates and the value of the dollar have direct relationships. This paper analyses the US dollar depreciation and its effects on America’s current account deficits. ... â€Å"The substantial depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the currencies of most industrial countries since early 2002 is presumably a manifestation of diminishing relative enthusiasm for U.S. dollar investments, at least where market forces operate without significant official involvement† (Mussa, 2007,p.4). Depreciation of dollar will discourage developed countries from investing in US dollars. Earlier, most of the foreign organizations invested heavily in US dollars because of the perception that US economy will never be destroyed and the dollar value will never be decreased. However, the recent recession and the subsequent financial crisis happened in United States have forced others to change their opinion. Thus dollar started to depreciate against most of the industrial country currencies and the effective foreign exchange value of the dollar has been reduced considerably over the last few years. Effective dollar depreciation, together with the relative strengthening of growth in other countries, has stabilized the U.S. external deficit when measured in real volume terms since late 2004; and the fourth quarter of 2006 will probably see a significant decline in this measure of the real payments deficit. The current account deficit as a share of GDP may also show a modest decline next year, especially if world oil prices remain below their average 2006 level (Mussa, 2007, p.4) â€Å"A depreciation of the U.S. dollar not only increases the dollar value of U.S. assets denominated in foreign currencies, but it also reduces the foreign currency value of U.S. liabilities, which are, essentially, all denominated in U.S. dollars† (International Financial Integration and the Current Account Balance, 2006, p.2). The