MESSAGE (Ambiguous)
Charles François (2004). MESSAGE (Ambiguous), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 2081.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 2081 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model |
A message thus transmitted that the receiver remains unsure of its meaning.
The ambiguity is generally the result of uncertainty about the context, as for example in the case of humour when we are not yet sure where the joke is leading us, or when an imprecise question allows for different replies, as in oracular pronouncements. The problem of ambiguity shows that any message is merely a specific combination of some elements within a linguistic and situational environment.
See also
Meaninglessness