Ambivalence vs ambiguity : two distinct devices

Abstract EN

Ambivalence refers to the simultaneous combination of two opposite attitudes, ideas, etc., towards a person, a thing, etc.

Although ambivalence is generally thought to be a literary device to produce literary effect, this research work attempts to prove that it is a Semantico- Pragmatic phenomenon, thus involving both the linguistic and the extralinguistic levels of Language.

The controversy over ambivalence is that some scholars deal with it as a synonym to ambiguity, others regard it as part of it, while still others propose that it differs from it.

This study attempts to determine whether or not there is a distinction between ambivalence and ambiguity.

Furthermore, the study attempts to prove not only that it is a semantic-pragmatic device, but also that it is a result of certain stylistic deviations from the norm of the Linguistic levels of Language.

The study also hypothizes that since ambivalence highly affects meaning, semantic deviation is the most frequent type which creates different types of ambivalence.

Moreover, the paper proposes that as a literary device, ambivalence is used as a stylistic device to create further richness and subtlety of Language and style.

Moreover, the study proposes that ambivalence violates Grice's maxim of manner.

The paper is formed of four sections.

Section one is devoted to discussing the nature and notion of ambivalence.

Section two covers the types of ambivalence, while section three deals with the nature and notion of ambiguity.

Section four is devoted to Grices maxims as related to ambivalence.

The study ends with the conclusions reached and the bibliography.