Semantic and Syntax Ambiguity

One word can serve more than one meaning. The ambiguous words are ubiquitous or surround us either this is due a semantic aspect or syntactical aspect. 

This emphasizes the word "MANTAN' seen in the following picture. That means Bahasa Indonesia and Madurese language. The given word is to show that someone is no longer what they were such as ex-husband or ex-wife, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend in Bahasa Indonesian. In Madurese language, however, MANTAN is either bride or groom or both. Both languages are in contrast semantically. For non-Madurese or people who have no ideas about Madurese, the car is transporting a group of ex-husbands or a group of wives, or ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends. They could be ex- from one person or more who are in the same car. Indeed, that can generate such out loud laugh. 


The following is another example of ambiguity in syntax. SERUM BERLIAN UNTUK KULIT BERKILAU. To understand in what way the ambiguity takes place, we can raise a question: What is SERUM BERLIAN for is? Is it for people who have a shiny skin? or if your skin is not shiny then SERUM BERLIAN is for you? Which one is true?


Different pool can have different fish. In other words, readers can perceive that phrase in different ways. People that believe that beauty products are meant to beautify the unattractive skin, that what SERUM BERLIAN is for. However, the purchase cannot be made as people also think that that beauty product is for people with shiny skin only. So, the latter persons are out the group. 

Another example was found in the sentence "ROMBONGAN MEMBELAI WANITA". We focus on the word MEMBELAI. MEMBELAI or STROKE in English means to move a hand, another part of the body or an object gently over something or someone, normally repeatedly and for pleasure. The message could be right as intentionally delivered by the author. However, that word could be misspelled in purpose to generate ambiguity between MEMPELAI (bridegroom) and MEMBELAI (stroke). 

Labelling the car by "ROMBONGAN MEMPELAI WANITA" is a common cultural practice in Indonesian context to alarm other following drivers (to not violently drive which can risk the bride and groom within a car). It also informs people that there are bride and groom in the car. This is similar to alert we can find in the car labelled "CHILD ON BOARD". 

The minimal pair of the given words (MEMPELAI and MEMBELAI) between P and B carries different meaning. Culturally, the first word is common in a part of a marital ceremony in Indonesia. The latter one seems to be more entertaining than informative. 

Those instances illustrate the semantic and syntax ambiguity found around us. Misinterpretation can occur that must be unexpected by the authors. This also exemplifies how exactly the same word in one language to the next can mean a different thing. 


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