Without taking a strong theoretical stance on the terminological boundary between ambiguity and vagueness, we suggest that, at least when considered as persuasion devices, they are quite different and almost opposite phenomena. We suggest that vagueness is effectively persuasive in that it can specifically divert epistemic vigilance from questionable or unpleasant contents. Ambiguity, conversely, encodes multiple meanings drawing additional attention to the message. We support such claims through examples from markedly persuasive texts and through the results of a self-paced reading experiment revealing differences between contextually precise vague expressions (VE), contextually non-precise VE, and precise expressions.
Coppola, C., Mannaioli, G., Lombardi Vallauri, E. (2024). Chapter 4. Vagueness and ambiguity are very different (persuasion devices). In C.Z. Ilaria Fiorentini (a cura di), Vagueness, Ambiguity, and All the Rest: Linguistic and pragmatic approaches. (Pragmatics & Beyond New Series 347) (pp. 51-83) [10.1075/pbns.347.04cop].
Chapter 4. Vagueness and ambiguity are very different (persuasion devices)
Coppola, Claudia;Mannaioli, Giorgia;Lombardi Vallauri, Edoardo
2024-01-01
Abstract
Without taking a strong theoretical stance on the terminological boundary between ambiguity and vagueness, we suggest that, at least when considered as persuasion devices, they are quite different and almost opposite phenomena. We suggest that vagueness is effectively persuasive in that it can specifically divert epistemic vigilance from questionable or unpleasant contents. Ambiguity, conversely, encodes multiple meanings drawing additional attention to the message. We support such claims through examples from markedly persuasive texts and through the results of a self-paced reading experiment revealing differences between contextually precise vague expressions (VE), contextually non-precise VE, and precise expressions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
