Ambiguousness creates confusion.
Ambiguous is an adjective that has its etymological root in the Latin word ambigŭus and is used to describe that which does not have a single sense or meaning, that can be interpreted in different ways or that generates confusion .
For example: «The official candidate's speech was ambiguous: the analysts expected more blunt definitions» , «I think the judicial resolution is somewhat ambiguous» , «I don't understand why you always have to be so ambiguous; I'm simply asking you if you're on my side or his."
The ambiguous in linguistics
If we focus on linguistics, the ambiguous is that which gives rise to multiple interpretations and which, therefore, can cause confusion or questions. This ambiguity may arise due to semantic aspects, syntax or other factors.
An ambiguous sentence is the following: "Ricardo saw Daniel drunk and didn't know what to say." This phrase could refer to the fact that Daniel was drunk when Ricardo found him, or that the drunk was Ricardo himself, since the adjective has the appropriate gender and number for both the subject (Ricardo) and the object (Daniel), and There is not enough context to know which of the two it modifies.
Homonymy , which implies the existence of words with the same form and different meaning, can also lead to ambiguity . "There is no priest in this place" is an ambiguous phrase: it can refer to the fact that there is no priest in a particular place (although this may surprise the sender or his interlocutor), or that there is no solution to a problem in that place. certain.
Something ambiguous has more than one meaning or sense.
Data hiding
It is important to note that ambiguity can be used deliberately to confuse the interlocutor, or to not reveal certain information in a conversation. In this case we are faced with a positive and beneficial use of ambiguous language, although it is not always satisfactory for those who receive it.
If we place ourselves in the context of a conference about the launch of a revolutionary electronic device, for example, the normal thing is that the company that presents it does not make public all its characteristics, either due to the desire to wait for the consumers themselves. discover once they get their hands on it or to reduce the chances of competitors stealing your ideas. When asked about a product's technical specifications, company representatives may use ambiguity to protect your information without being rude.
For example, if the question were "I noticed that your new console can manipulate hundreds of photographs in real time; "Does this speak to the compression and decompression capabilities of the device?" , the ambiguous answer could be "As you know, we are facing a new step on the path of technological advances, and that is why it should not surprise you that our device has exceptional performance, whether in image manipulation or in all other areas» .
Of course, ambiguous language can also be annoying or even unproductive, if the lack of information is unnecessary and causes communication problems in a work team. In certain environments, such as medicine or computing, where precision is essential for security and good performance, ambiguity must be avoided by all means in favor of clear and direct language.
Ambiguous individuals
Those who do not define themselves through their expressions or actions are also classified as ambiguous.
If an ambiguous journalist is asked which team will win the next Spanish soccer tournament, he may answer: "Barcelona is very good, but Real Madrid has a great team and Atlético de Madrid is going through an excellent moment."