Ambiguous messages are messages with more than one potential meaning. Sometimes this ambiguity occurs because we use words that can be interpreted differently. Informal time terms offer good examples; soon, right away, in a minute, early, late, and similar terms often mean different things to different people. The terms are ambiguous. A more interesting type of ambiguity is grammatical ambiguity. You can get a feel for this type of ambiguity by trying to develop two paraphrases (each with different meanings) for each of these sentences:
One set of possible paraphrases is this:
Although these examples are particularly striking—and are the work of linguists who analyze language—some degree of ambiguity exists in all communication; all messages are ambiguous to some degree. When you express an idea, you never communicate your meaning exactly and totally; rather, you communicate your meaning with some reasonable accuracy—enough to give the other person a reasonably clear sense of what you mean. Sometimes, of course, you’re less accurate than you anticipated: Your listener “gets the wrong idea,” or “gets offended” when you only meant to be humorous, or “misunderstands your emotional meaning.” Because of this inevitable uncertainty, you may qualify what you’re saying, give an example, or ask, “Do you know what I mean?” These tactics help the other person understand your meaning and reduce uncertainty (to some degree).
Any communication situation can be ambiguous. In small group or organizational situations, you may be unsure of how you or your ideas are being evaluated. You may be unsure of the hierarchy in the organization. You may be unsure of what style of leadership will prove effective and what style will cause resentment. In public speaking you probably face the greatest ambiguity; namely, how your audience will respond to your speech. Will they be in favor of what you’re advocating or against it? Will they understand certain technical terms, or will you have to define them? Will they be willing to pay attention?
Similarly, all relationships contain uncertainty. Consider a close relationship of your own and ask yourself, for example, if you know what topics will likely create problems or how your partner sees your relationship 10 years from now or what your partner’s worst fears are or what fantasies your partner has. Very likely you have some ambiguity about these things. As a relationship progresses, it becomes less ambiguous but probably never totally unambiguous. You can look at the skills of communication presented in this course as ways of reducing ambiguity in communicating meaning and in relationships.
1. What has the cat in its paws?
2. Visiting relatives can be boring.
3. They are flying planes.
One set of possible paraphrases is this:
1. What monster has the cat in its paws? What does the cat have in its paws?
2. To visit relatives can be boring. Relatives who visit can be boring.
3. Those people are flying planes. Those planes are for flying.
Although these examples are particularly striking—and are the work of linguists who analyze language—some degree of ambiguity exists in all communication; all messages are ambiguous to some degree. When you express an idea, you never communicate your meaning exactly and totally; rather, you communicate your meaning with some reasonable accuracy—enough to give the other person a reasonably clear sense of what you mean. Sometimes, of course, you’re less accurate than you anticipated: Your listener “gets the wrong idea,” or “gets offended” when you only meant to be humorous, or “misunderstands your emotional meaning.” Because of this inevitable uncertainty, you may qualify what you’re saying, give an example, or ask, “Do you know what I mean?” These tactics help the other person understand your meaning and reduce uncertainty (to some degree).
Any communication situation can be ambiguous. In small group or organizational situations, you may be unsure of how you or your ideas are being evaluated. You may be unsure of the hierarchy in the organization. You may be unsure of what style of leadership will prove effective and what style will cause resentment. In public speaking you probably face the greatest ambiguity; namely, how your audience will respond to your speech. Will they be in favor of what you’re advocating or against it? Will they understand certain technical terms, or will you have to define them? Will they be willing to pay attention?
Similarly, all relationships contain uncertainty. Consider a close relationship of your own and ask yourself, for example, if you know what topics will likely create problems or how your partner sees your relationship 10 years from now or what your partner’s worst fears are or what fantasies your partner has. Very likely you have some ambiguity about these things. As a relationship progresses, it becomes less ambiguous but probably never totally unambiguous. You can look at the skills of communication presented in this course as ways of reducing ambiguity in communicating meaning and in relationships.
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