Ambiguous Pronouns

210salta_Tren_a_las_Nubes[1].jpgI found a really interesting website tons of cool articles on memory and other interesting topic. The website called speedlearning.org is really a cool place to visit. In one of their articles, entitled Grammar 101 the topic of ambiguous pronouns was brought to light. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Ambiguous Pronouns
More gibberish? My personal favorite song from kindergarten was B.I.N.G.O.
Remember the first line?

Ambiguous Pronoun Example 1:
 
"There was a farmer who had a dog, and Bingo was his name-o."
The secret was to slap your leg as you withdrew one-letter at a time, with each new stanza.
a) Question? Whose name was Bingo, the farmer or the dog?

Ambiguous Pronoun Example 2:
 
Wait. Drugs can kill kids. Keep them locked up.
b) Question? Who do we lock up, the kids or the drugs?
You just read two examples of Ambiguous Pronouns. But you really know the meaning of the sentence because you are experienced in thinking in English.

(Excerpt edited for style. Read entire article here)
158Tren_a_las_Nubes[1].jpgI thought this was a really awesome example of ambiguous pronouns. In other languages, such as Spanish, the pronoun is often eliminated in the personal case, and is implied. Often because the actor is implied by the conjugation of the verb. A really provocative correlation between the ambiguity of pronouns.

(Pictures courtesy Marisol in Salta Argentina; Tren a las nubes.)

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This page contains a single entry by Ascolto published on August 11, 2008 5:00 AM.

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