Analytical Study on the Effects of the Intentional Use of Lexical Ambiguity

Abstract

The study is intended to analyze the effects of the intentional use of lexical ambiguity. So, when lexical ambiguity is used intentionally, it has two effects, i.e. humorous and ironic. In analyzing samples of humorous and ironic everyday conversations, newspaper headlines, announcements and specimen literary texts, it has been found that each one of these samples implies two meanings, apparent or surface and underlying or intended. The apparent varies in its forms. It implies pun, hyperbole ''overstatement'' or ''exaggeration'' or ''frustration'', or burlesque and understatement, and opposite ''sarcasm''. The underlying implies the real meaning included in these samples.