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The Analysis Of Ambiguity Found In Emily Dickinson’s Poems

Sitanggang Ramot T.B

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Abstract

This is study about ambiguity as found in Emily Dickinson’s Poems. This thesis focused on type of ambiguity which was conducted to discover the type of ambiguity as proposed by Katz. There are four type of ambiguity in this thesis. They are: Phonetic, Structural, Referential, and Lexical Ambiguity. Ten poems were taken as the sample of this research. The writer applied Katz’s theory in this research. There are 66 ambiguous sentences were analyzed in this research which was found in those ten poems. Phonetic ambiguity and structural ambiguity is not applied in Emily Dickinson’s poems. The most dominant type of ambiguity is Lexical ambiguity with 40(60.60%) occurrences and followed by Referential Ambiguity with 26(39.39%) occurrences. It’s mean that lexical ambiguity occurs in lexeme. Lexical ambiguity also known as because it is based on .

Keywords: ambiguity, Lexical ambiguity, Referential Ambiguity

1. The Background of the Study The scientific study of is called . Language is the most important part of human life and social process that it so many functions, one of them is to describe the meaning of a text. It shares information for the people to understand about all of the event in the world wide. It means that one can only interact with others or expresses one's feelings by using a language or by manipulating the words of language other people know. It is common factor that when people communicate with another, they use a language or body language to express their feelings, ideas, or suggestions. There are many linguistics subfield concerned with particular aspects of linguistic structure, ranging from those focused primarily on form to those focused primarily on meaning, such as: phonetics, phonology, morphology, , , and . Semantics is a subfield of linguistics which studies the ways in which contributes to meaning. Semantics is concerned with meaning and focuses on decontextualized meaning. Sampson (2001:1) states that language is people talking and writing. It means that when one is explaining something to another person, whether in talking and writing, she/he instinctively tries to organize what she/he says in a way that will make it easier for the hearer or reader to understand. Therefore, it needs some functions to express some meanings. In understanding the meaning, the readers have to know the meaning of the language so that she or he can understand the text easily. Two sentences can express a different meaning. This is due to the ambiguity. Ambiguity is an attribute of any , idea, and or claims whose meaning, or interpretation cannot be definitively resolved according to a rule or process consisting of a finite number of steps. Ambiguous meaning always makes the readers to be confused when she or he read the text. In understanding the real meaning of

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the text, she or he must interpret at least two or more because it has more one sense, each of them can not be interpreted as meaning a and meaning b simultaneously. In understanding the meaning, it is very important to know the role of meaning because it has a great contribution to deliver some information for the readers. But, in , most of the readers always faced some problems when they try to get some meanings from English text. They still it difficulty in understand the meaning in the sentences because some ambiguous meaning often occurs in the text. The text can be in any form. It can be textbook, magazine, newspaper, novel or poem. As the result they can not get the messages from their reading poem. Poem is a composition in verse, especially one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject. The writer interest to poems written by classical such as John Keats, , , and Emily Dickinson. Emily Dickinson, wrote thousands of famous poems, many of her poems have multiple “variants.” She put little crosses which essentially served as asterisks on her pages, followed by corresponding footnotes, indicating many alternate word choices for each poem, so that none was ever “finished” or had an official version. Besides that, there are so many ambiguous meaning hidden in her poems. In relation between ambiguity and Emily Dickinson’s poems, the writer wants to analyze the type of ambiguity used in Emily Dickinson’s poems. According to Katz (1971:248) there are four types of ambiguity namely: Phonetics, Structural, Referential and Lexical ambiguity. So it is important to understand that many sentences become ambiguous since readers lack of understanding of it. It has been mentioned earlier that it is impossible to understand English either in spoken or written form without understanding ambiguity, especially appears in language of poem. To solve problem, it is considered to conduct a study entitled “The Analysis of Ambiguity as Found in Emily Dickinson’s poems “. The objectives of this study are: to describe the types of ambiguity are found in Emily Dickinson’s poems, to find out the dominant type of ambiguity are used in Emily Dickinson’s poems

The results of this research are expected to be useful for:

Theoretically The result of the research as one of the linguistic exploration and application of ambiguity meaning analysis as found in poem. to be useful for other Poem writers in using Ambiguity sentence in their poems. Practically the readers and writers realize that in understanding the poem is not only to know about highly artistic words and rhythm, but also to understand the ambiguous meaning in the sentences, The finding of research is expected to gain benefit because it provides some valuable information particularly to other researchers who would like to conduct an in depth study on ambiguity. Theoretical Framework

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In conducting a research, theoretical frames are very important to explain some that applied in the research concerned. Consequently misunderstanding and miscommunication could be avoided. Some theories deals with the definition of certain terms are used in this research. Linguistics Language is a systematic means of communication ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized , sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings. The study of language is called linguistics. Robins (1979:6) states that linguistics also one of the social , in that the phenomena forming its subject-matter are part of the behavior of men and women in society, in interaction with their fellows. It can be concluded that linguistics is the study of language, but not just particular , but the system of human communication. There are many linguistics subfield concerned with particular aspects of linguistic structure, ranging from those focused primarily on form to those focused primarily on meaning, they are: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology ,Syntax, Pragmatics and Semantics. 1. Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds (phones). 2. Phonology is the study of what sounds a language has, and how these sounds combined into sentences. 3. Morphology is the identification, analysis and description of the structure of morphemes and other units of meaning in language like words, affixes, and parts of speech and intonation or stress. 4. Syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing sentences in natural languages. The term Syntax is used to refer directly to the rules and principles that govern the sentence structure of any individual language. 5. Pragmatics is the study of how utterances are used in communicative acts, and the role played by context and non-linguistics knowledge in the transmission of meaning. 6. Semantics is the study of the meaning of words (lexical meaning) and fixed words combinations (phraseology),and how these combine to form meanings of sentences.

Semantics Semantics may be pointed out as the study of human beings communication to other people in broader sense. Robins (1979:14) describes that semantics is study of meaning. It means that understanding a language is to understand the meaning of the sentences, and it would eventually be the starting point in the study of language as a medium of communication. There are several other definitions of semantics given by linguists. Kreidler (1998:30) states that semantics also is the study of how language organizes and expresses meaning. Chierchia and Ginet (1992:1) say that semantics is branch of linguistic devoted to

8 the investigation of linguistic meaning, the interpretation of expression in a language system. Then, Palmer (1983:20) points out that semantics are the technical terms used to refer to the study of meanings. From the above, the writer concluded that semantics is a division of linguistics dealing with word meanings or string of words which are meaningful. In other words, it is a study which concerned with meaning. Ambiguity When the listener understands the speaker's idea, he or she can grasp meaning and there is a good interaction between them. The meaning of words has an important role in communication. Principally, people improve their ability to communicate through language to get some meanings. Aitchison (1978:82) explains that study of meaning is normally referred as “semantics” .There so many problems in connecting with meaning. One of them is the relation of meaning and its word. For example, ‘There is a chicken’. The word ‘chicken’ can give some meanings to the reader. Firstly ‘chicken’ means ‘a kind of animal’. Secondly, it means ‘a bad girl’. It means that, in the study of semantics, meaning has a great role to give a sense to the reader. In this case, ambiguity is commonly occurred in written language. It is because written language doesn’t have supra segmental to give the supporting complement such as intonation, stress, etc. Written language is simply explained by the elements, which construct the sentences and the relationship of each. Ullman (1977:156) define that ambiguity is a linguistic condition which can arise in a variety of ways. Chierchia and Ginet (1992:32) states that ambiguity arises when a single word or string of word is associated in the language. Then, Kreidler (1998:298) defines ambiguity as the condition where by any linguistic form has two or more interpretation. From three quotations above the writer concludes that ambiguity is different meaning which occurs in one expression at the same time. One sentence becomes ambiguous if it has more than one reading or interpretations and each of them can not be interpreted as meaning A and meaning B simultaneously, this can be seen in the following examples: 1. Foreigners are hunting dogs This sentence also has two interpretations or two readings; 1.a Foreigners are hunting [dogs] Means that dogs were being hunted 1.b [Foreigners] are hunting dogs Means that foreigners are being spoken of as dogs

2. We need more intelligent leaders This sentence has two interpretations, they are: 2.a We need (more) intelligent leaders Means that a greater quantity of intelligent leaders 2.b We need more (intelligent leaders) Means that leaders who are more intelligent leaders

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Sentences number 1 and 2 are ambiguous for each of them has more than one meaning. Sentences become ambiguous when sentence 1 is interpreted as meaning 1a, and 1b. But cannot be interpreted both of them simultaneously. Equal with sentence 2, which is interpreted as 2a and 2b, yet cannot be interpreted both of them simultaneously. Type of Ambiguity Ambiguity is a linguistic condition which can arise in a variety of ways. Many linguist distinguished different type of ambiguity in literature. Ullman (1977: 156) states that there are three main types of ambiguity from a purely linguistic point of view; phonetic, grammatical, and lexical. According to Katz (1971:248) categorized ambiguity in to four types; they are phonetic, structural, referential, and lexical ambiguity. Phonetic Ambiguity Phonetic ambiguity occurs in the sound production. Ambiguity may result in spoken language from the phonetic structure of the sentence. It means the listeners hear the same sound of expression but it has different meaning or interpretation of the listener. Ullman (1977:156) states that since the acoustic unit of speech is the breath group made up of different words becomes homonymous and thus potentially ambiguous. If this occurs, often enough it may leave a permanent mark on the language. In English for example, there was once a noun ‘near’ meaning ‘kidney’ (related to German Niere), but it fell subsequently into disuse because ‘a near’ (means one kidney) could be confused with ‘an ear’.

Another example:

1. New direction = Nude erection 2. New day = Nude eh? 3. Wait = Weight 4. Psychotherapist = Psycho therapist

Structural Ambiguity A sentence may be ambiguous because of the clause type are involved. Katz (1977: 248) states that structural ambiguity occurs when a phrase or sentence has more than one underlying structure. The ambiguity stems from the prepositional phrases which can as an adverb and adjective.

Example:

“He is eating the fish on the table”. From the sentence, we can see two possible meanings, namely: 1. He is eating the fish which is on the table, and 2. He is eating the fish while sitting on the table. “Old men and women” This sentence, we can see two interpretations, they are: 1. Specified of men but not of women, and

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2. Everyone is old Indeed, the existence of such ambiguities provides strong for level of underlying syntactic structure. Consider the structurally ambiguous sentence. “The chickens are ready to eat” which could be used to describe either a. The chickens are ready (the chickens eat something) b. The chickens are ready (someone eat the chickens)

It is arguable that the operative reading depends on whether or not the implicit subject of the infinitive clause “ to eat” is tied anaphorically to subject ( the chicken) of the main clause. To eliminate the ambiguity, the translator has to analyze the deep structure and surface structure of the sentence. To do so, they should be familiar with sentence patterns namely:

1) Subject + verb + complement ( a noun, an adjective, an adverb) a. Sofia is in the house b. He is happy 2) Subject + verb ( transitive) + object a. She studies English b. He reads the book 3) Subject+ verb (transitive) + object+ adverb (manner, place, time, Etc.) a. He studies English seriously b. We do the job every day. 4) Subject + verb( intransitive) a. I am crying b. She is coming

Referential Ambiguity

Referential ambiguity arises when words mostly a pronoun can refer to more than one entity in the same sentence, or to another sentence, or to another item in the world. Kreidler (1998:151) states that referential ambiguity occurs when:

a) An indefinite referring expression may be specific or not

For example:

“I wanted to buy a book”

(Which Books? Biology,, English,etc) b) is unclear because a personal pronoun (he, she, it, or they) can be linked to either of two referring expressions.

For example:

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”Join told Samuel that visitor was waiting for him’.

(Him = Join)

(Him = Samuel) c) The pronoun “ You” is used generically of specifically For example: “If you want to get ahead, you have to work hard”. (Is “You” is the addresses or this sentence a general platitude?) d) A noun phrase with “every” can be distributed or collected reference.

For example:

“I’m buying a drink to everybody here” (One drink for all or for each)

Another example:

“John kissed his girl-friend”

This sentences, can have two possible meaning, they are:

1. John kissed his girl-friend ( His own girl friend), and 2. John kissed his girl-friend ( The girl friend of someone else)

Lexical ambiguity Lexical ambiguity occurs in ‘lexeme’ since it has more than one meaning. Katz (1972:249) states that when the homonymous can occur in the same position in utterances the result is lexical ambiguity. Lexical ambiguity is also known as semantic ambiguity. Semantic ambiguity arises when a word or concept has inherently diffuse meaning based on widespread or informal usage. For example: “I was on my way to the bank” This utterance likely to carry information about depositing or withdrawing money or, on the other hand it can be interpreted fishing or boating. “She has good legs” This sentence can either mean that she has healthy legs (no varicose veins or badly mended bones, no weak ankles, etc), or it mean that she has legs which function well.

More problems are words whose sense expresses closely related concepts. For example:

1. That’s a good hammer.

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“good” here can mean “ useful of functional’ 2. This is good soup. “good” here can mean “pleasing” 3. He is a good person. “good” here can mean “ moral” 4. I have a good brother. “good” here is not clear about which sense is intended.

On the other hand, if a word has more than one meaning in one language it is a lexically ambiguous. In additionally, lexical ambiguity is distinguished into two types, namely:

a. Homonymy Homonymy is the relation between two or more separate lexical items which have the same form but unrelated meanings. The item could be homonymy may have the same phonetic or written form or both. Example: “give me a ring” This sentence, can two possible meaning, they are: 1. A telephone ring, and 2. Ring that wear in the finger b. Polysemy refer with multiple meaning, is of single lexeme with several senses. Example: “face” It is can different interpretation 1. Human face, and 2. Face of oclock Poem Poem (Oxford 2000: 1013) is a piece of writing in which the words are chosen for their sound and the images they suggest, not just for their obvious meanings. The words are arranged in separate lines, usually with a repeated rhythm. Poem also is an arrangement of words written or spoken: traditionally rhythmical composition, sometimes rhymed, expressing experiences, ideas, or emotions in style, more concentrated, imaginative, and powerful than that of ordinary speech or prose.

There are five aspects of poem

1. Sense of poem is the subject matter of the poem. What is the poem about very often but not always, a person will give you some indication of its general meaning. Then by reading it carefully over and over we can catch its meaning. 2. Feeling is the attitude of the writer to word the subject matter. By reading a certain poem carefully we could understand what the writer thinks about the subject matter, feel of it and his about it.

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3. Tone is the attitude of the writer toward the reader whether the writer is in a good mood, pessimism, sadness. We understand it by giving our attention to the words that the poet uses in his poem. 4. Intention is undoubtedly the poet writers a certain poem he has a special intention. At least for his to express his feeling. But we have to know, good poems are written because they have to be, not because their authors want them to be. 5. Rhythm. all has rhythm, from the strictest metered verse to the loosest free verse. The rhythm of poetry is like the beat of , and if you have control over it, you have control over your writing. Rhythm is composed mainly of stress (in varying levels from none to a lot) and pauses. It is what influences how the words are read, rather than what the words are. Very often, fixing a line that doesn't quite work is a simple as examining its rhythm and seeing where it goes wrong.

Emily Dickinson’s work

Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, . She attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley, but only for one year. Throughout her life, she seldom left her home and visitors were few. The people with whom she did come in contact, however, had an enormous impact on her poetry. She was particularly stirred by the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, whom she first met on a trip to . He left for the West Coast shortly after a visit to her home in 1860, and some critics believe his departure gave rise to the heartsick flow of verse from Dickinson in the years that followed. While it is certain that he was an important figure in her life, it is not clear that their relationship was romantic she called him “my closest earthly friend.” Other possibilities for the unrequited love that was the subject of many of Dickinson’s poems include Otis P. Lord, a Massachusetts Supreme Court judge, and Samuel Bowles, editor of the Springfield Republican.

By the 1860s, Dickinson lived in almost complete isolation from the outside world, but actively maintained many correspondences and read widely. She spent a great deal of this time with her family. Her father, , was actively involved in state and national politics, serving in Congress for one term. Her brother, Austin, who attended law school and became an attorney, lived next door with his wife, Susan Gilbert. Dickinson’s younger sister, Lavinia, also lived at home for her entire life in similar isolation. Lavinia and Austin were not only family, but intellectual companions for Dickinson during her lifetime.

Dickinson’s poetry was heavily influenced by the Metaphysical poets of seventeenth- century England, as well as her reading of the Book of Revelation and her upbringing in a Puritan town, which encouraged a Calvinist, orthodox, and conservative approach to .

She admired the poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well as John Keats. Though she was dissuaded from reading the verse of her contemporary

14 by rumors of its disgracefulness, the two poets are now connected by the distinguished place they hold as the founders of a uniquely American poetic voice. While Dickinson was extremely prolific as a poet and regularly enclosed poems in letters to friends, she was not publicly recognized during her lifetime. The first volume of her work was published posthumously in 1890 and the last in 1955. She died in Amherst in 1886.

Upon her death, Dickinson’s family discovered forty handbound volumes of nearly 1,800 poems, or “fascicles” as they are sometimes called. Dickinson assembled these booklets by folding and sewing five or six sheets of stationery paper and copying what seem to be final versions of poems. The handwritten poems show a variety of dash-like marks of various sizes and directions (some are even vertical). The poems were initially unbound and published according to the aesthetics of her many early editors, who removed her unusual and varied dashes, replacing them with traditional punctuation. The current standard version of her poems replaces her dashes with an in-dash, which is a closer typographical approximation to her intention. The original order of the poems was not restored until 1981, when Ralph W. Franklin used the physical evidence of the paper itself to restore her intended order, relying on smudge marks, needle punctures, and other clues to reassemble the packets. Since then, many critics have argued that there is a thematic unity in these small collections, rather than their order being simply chronological or convenient. The Manuscript Books of Emily Dickinson (Belknap Press, 1981) is the only volume that keeps the order intact. Previous Studies There are some previous researchers did a research on Ambiguity, the writer takes three (3) researchers as the previous research, and they are, Pico Ramos Sibuea ( 2009- State University of Medan), Doris Sinaga ( 2005- State University of Medan), Selvyane Irawati Simanjuntak ( 2009- HKBP Nommensen University of Medan). 1. Pico Ramos Sibuea (2009) Title: lexical ambiguity in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and the Damned”. Ramos (2009) analyzes the Lexical ambiguity. This research used qualitative research. The findings of this research were there are two types of lexical ambiguity are found in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and The Damned”. They are homonymy and polysemy. The most dominant type of lexical ambiguity that found in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and The Damned” is polysemy from total occurrence. 2. Doris Sinaga (2005) Title: Ambiguity in the language of Billboard. Sinaga (2005) analyzes all of the type ambiguity. They are: phonetic, structural, referential, and lexical ambiguity. This research used descriptive quantitative research. The population in this research is billboards which written in English that is located in Medan. The findings of this research, the most dominant used in the language of billboard is the lexical ambiguity. It means that lexical ambiguity occurs in Billboard.

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3. Selvyane Irawati Simanjuntak (2009) Title: An Analysis of Ambiguity in English Text Translators into Bahasa Indonesia Made By Commercial Translators. Simanjuntak (2009) analyzes all types of ambiguity they are: Phonetic, structural, referential, and lexical ambiguity. The population of this study was English Text Translators in to Bahasa Indonesia made by Commercial Translators around USU campus. And the sample of this study was four English texts that are translated by commercial translators around USU campus. This research used descriptive research. The finding of this research, Lexical ambiguity is often happened. Its means that lexical ambiguity arises when context is insufficient to determine the sense of single word that has more than one meaning.

Conceptual Framework

Semantics

Logical Transparent Ambiguity Types of Changes of Meaning and Opaque Meaning Meaning Words 16

Types of Ambiguity (Katz 1971: 248)

1. Phonetic Ambiguity 2. Structural Ambiguity

3. Referential Ambiguity 4. Lexical Ambiguity Emily Dickinson’s Poem

Result

Phonetic Structural Referential Lexical Ambiguity Ambiguity Ambiguity Ambiguity …. ….

Figure I. Ambiguity found in Emily Dickinson’s Poems (Sitanggang, 2015)

Semantics is a division of linguistics dealing with meanings of string of words which are meaningful. In understanding the meaning most of the readers have to know the meaning of the language so that she or he can understand the text easily, because some ambiguous meaning often occurs in the text. The text can be in any form. It can be a textbook, magazine, newspaper, novel or poem, as the result the readers faced some problem when they try to get some information from the reading poem. Poem is a composition in verse, especially one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject. This study will try to find out the type of ambiguity as found in Emily Dickinson’s poems. There are four types of ambiguity will be used namely: phonetic, structural, lexical, and referential ambiguity. Each described as following: Phonetic ambiguity often occurs in sound production. In this case, the listener hears the same sound one expression but it has different interpretation of the listeners. Structural ambiguity occurs when a phrase or sentence has more than one underlying structure. Lexical ambiguity occurs because a longer linguistics form has a literal sense

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and figurative sense. Referential ambiguity arises when words mostly a pronoun can refer to more than one entity in the same sentence, or to another sentence, or to another item in the world. The writer is interested to poems written by classical literature such as John Keats, William Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Emily Dickinson. Especially Emily Dickinson, she wrote thousands of famous poems, many of her poems have multiple “variants.” She put little crosses which essentially served as asterisks on her pages, followed by corresponding footnotes, indicating many alternate word choices for each poem, so that none was ever “finished” or had an official version. Besides that, there are so many ambiguous meaning hidden in her poems. In relation between ambiguity and Emily Dickinson’s poems, the writer will try to find what the dominant types of ambiguity used in Emily Dickinson’s poems. From the above explanation, it is important to understand that many sentences become ambiguous since readers lack of understanding of it. It has been mentioned earlier that it is impossible to understand English either in spoken or written form without understanding ambiguity.

2. Research Design

Research design is plans and the procedures for research that spans decisions from broad assumptions to detailed method of data collection and analysis. It means that there some plans before make a research. The writer uses library research which uses books and other writing can support the research besides, the writer also uses descriptive theory, namely descriptive qualitative.

According to John W. Creswell (2003-21) stated that a mixed methods approach is one in which the researcher tends to base knowledge claims on pragmatic grounds (e.g., consequence- oriented, problem centered and pluralistic). It employs strategies of that involve collecting data either simultaneously or sequentially to best understand research problems. The data collection also involves gathering both numeric information (e.g. instruments) as well as text information (example on interviews) so that the final database represents both quantitative and qualitative information.

The source of data is the subject of research. In this research, the subject is Emily Dickinson’s poems. The data of this research are the sentences found in Emily Dickinson’s Poem. There are twenty six (26) Emily Dickinson’s Poems in June 2015 that were published. The writer limited Emily Dickinson’s Poems as much as 10 poems to be sample of this study. The title of Emily Dickinson’s Poems as follows:

1. The wind begun to rock the grass. 2. Who were ‘the old father and the son’ 3. What did they do since I saw them? 4. The Heaven vest for each 5. The Duties of the Wind are few

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6. The wind took up the northern things 7. And with what body do they come? 8. Escape is such a Thankful Word 9. My first well day since Many ill 10. High from the earth I heard the bird to collecting data, there are some steps that must be followed. searching the data from the internet, selection the poem that were published in 2015 as much as ten (10)., reading the ten (10) poem of Emily Dickinson., underlining the ambiguity found in Emily Dickinson’s p oem. The data analyzed by marking the ambiguous sentences as found in Emily Dickinson’s poem. The data analysis is done by following these steps: analyzing the ambiguity in each sentence of Emily Dickinson’s poems, classifying the sentences into the type of ambiguity as found in Emily Dickinson’s poems, making tabulation and calculation and chart, determining the dominant type of ambiguity found in Emily Dickinson’s Poem., concluding the analysis of the study

3.Data Analysis

The writer presents the analysis of all the data. This chapter is the most significances part of the whole study. The data of this study were taken from Emily Dickinson’s Poem. The total data is taken from ten (10) poems. The writer got 10 data from poem The wind begun to rock the grass, 5 data from poem Who were ‘the old father and the son’, 7 data from poem What did they do since I saw them?, 5 data from poem The Heaven vest for each , 5 data from poem The Duties of the Wind are few, 7 data from poem The wind took up the northern things, 4 data from poem And with what body do they come ?, 4 data from poem Escape is such a Thankful Word, 10 data from poem My first well day since Many ill, 9 data from poem High from the earth I heard the bird. The total data is 65 data will be analyzed in this research which was found in those ten (10) Poems. They can be seen on the table 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10 below.

Table 4.1 The data from poem The wind begun to rock the grass(Poem A) No Data A.1 the wind begun to rock the grass A.2 He flung a menace at the earth A.3 A menace at the sky A.4 The leaves unhooked themselves from trees A.5 The thunder hurried slow A.6 The lightning showed a yellow beak A.7 And then a livid claw A.8 The cattle fled to barns A.9 There came one drop of giant rain A.10 The water wreak the sky

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Table 4.2 The data from poem Who were ‘the old father and the son’(Poem B) No Data B.1 We wondered when a child B.2 We thought, at least they are no worse B.3 When altered frequently B.4 We blush, that heaven if we achieve B.5 Event ineffable

Table 4.3 The data from poem What did they do since I saw them? (Poem C) No Data C.1 Were they industrious? C.2 That could I snatch their faces C.3 That could their lips reply C.4 Were to them now, Homesickness C.5 After eternity C.6 Not if the just suspect me C.7 And offer a reward

Table 4.4 The data from poem The Heaven vest for each (Poem D)

No Data D.1 In that small deity D.2 It craved the grace to worship D.3 In full eternity D.4 A clemency so common D.5 We almost cease to fear

Table 4.5 The data from poem The Duties of the wind are few (Poem E)

No Data E.1 To cast the ships, at sea E.2 And usher liberty E.3 The pleasures of the wind are broad E.4 Also with her bird and asteroid E.5 The limitations of the wind

Table 4.6 The data from poem The wind took up the northern things (Poem F)

No Data F.1 And opening his mouth F.2 While everybody to corners slunk F.3 Behind the awful power

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F.4 And nature ventured out F.5 How intimate, a tempest past F.6 The transport of the bird

Table 4.7 The data from poem And with what body do they come? (Poem G)

No Data G.1 Then they do come- Rejoice! G.2 What Door-What Hour- run – run – my soul! G.3 Illuminate the house! G.4 He passed through Bethlehem

Table 4.8 The data from poem Escape is such a thankful word (Poem H)

No Data H.1 Escape is such a thankful word H.2 No spectacle in sight H.3 The rest of life is drop H.4 Upon this trusty word

Table 4.9 The data from poem My first well day since Many ill (Poem I)

No Data I.1 My first well day since many ill I.2 To take my chance with pain I.3 Should prove the strongest one I.4 A fond- illusive way I.5 To fade tomorrow rainbow held I.6 The sepulcher could hide I.7 On every shoulder that she met I.8 Put up to hide her parting grace I.9 One earns by measuring the grave I.10 Then measuring the sun

Table 4.10 The data from poem High from the earth I heard the bird (Poem J)

No Data J.1 He trod upon the trees J.2 And situated softly J.3 Nature had left behind J.4 A joyous going fellow J.5 I gathered from his talk

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J.6 Without apparent burden J.7 He was the faithful father J.8 His remedy for care J.9 A to our respites

writer collected the data and finds the ambiguity sentences and then the data classified according to the types of ambiguity and their meaning. In this research, the writer analyzes Katz’s classification of ambiguity, they are: Phonetic ambiguity, Structural Ambiguity, Referential ambiguity, and Lexical ambiguity.

Phonetic Ambiguity

Phonetic ambiguity can not be found in Emily Dickinson’s poem. It is because phonetic ambiguity occurs in the sound production. Ambiguity may result in spoken language from the phonetic structure of the sentence. It means the listeners hear the same sound of expression but it has different meaning or interpretation of the listener.

Structural Ambiguity

The writer can not find structural ambiguity in Emily Dickinson’s poems. Structural ambiguity did not occur in those poems, most of the sentence use ungrammatical words. It is because the poems are not in accord with standard linguistic usage. Emily Dickinson’s poems can be called as ungrammatical sentences or phrases. The text in the poem can not be changed because that is the characteristic of the poems.

Referential Ambiguity

Referential ambiguity arises when words mostly a pronoun can refer to more than one entity in the same sentence, or to another sentence, or to another item in the world. The writer also found some referential ambiguity type in poems.

1. There came one drop of giant rain.( A.9) In this sentence can have two interpretations, they are: Interpretation I Very large, much larger or more important than similar things usually are. Interpretation II It’s raining heavily. Explanation: “giant rain” has two interpretations; It is called referential ambiguity because the word giant rain is ambiguous. It is not clear what referring expression may be specific or not.

2. We wondered when a child.(B.1) In this sentence can have two interpretations, they are: Interpretation I

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To think about something and try to decide what is true, what will happen, what you should do etc. Interpretation II Used a polite way of asking a question or asking somebody to do something. Explanation: “wondered” have two interpretations; It is called referential ambiguity because the word wondered is ambiguous. It is not clear what referring expression may be specific or not.

3. Nature had left behind ( J.3) This sentence also have to interpretations, they are: Interpretation I All the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people. Interpretation II The way that things happen in the physical world when it is not controlled by people. Explanation: “Nature” has two interpretations; It is called referential ambiguity because the word joyous is ambiguous. It is not clear about what referring expression may be specific or not.

4. Upon this trusty word (H.4)

In this sentence have two interpretations, namely: Interpretation I That you have had a long time and have always been able to rely on. Interpretation II To have confidence in somebody. Explanation: “trusty word” has two interpretations; It is called referential ambiguity because the word trusty word is ambiguous. It is not clear about what referring expression may be specific or not.

5. The limitations of the wind.(E.5) Interpretation I To stop something from increasing beyond a particular amount or level. Interpretation II To restrict or reduce the amount of something that you or somebody can have or use. Explanation: “limitations” have two interpretations; it is called Referential ambiguity because the word limitations are ambiguous. It is not clear about what referring expression may be specific or not.

6. After eternity (C.5)

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Interpretation I Time without end, especially life continuing without end after death. Interpretation II A period of time that seems to be very long or to never end. Explanation: “eternity” has two interpretations; It is called referential ambiguity because the word eternity is ambiguous. It is not clear about what referring expression may be specific or not.

Lexical Ambiguity Lexical ambiguity occurs in ‘lexeme’ since it has more than one meaning. Katz (1972:249) states that when the homonymous can occur in the same position in utterances the result is lexical ambiguity. Lexical ambiguity is also known as semantic ambiguity. Semantic ambiguity arises when a word or concept has inherently diffuse meaning based on widespread or informal usage. 1. It craved the grace to worship.( D.2) This sentence can have to interpretations, they are: Interpretation I Grace (Noun) an attractive quality of movement that is smooth, and elegant controlled. Interpretation II (Verb) to make something more attractive, to decorate something. Explanation: “grace” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word grace is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

2. And offer a reward. (C.7) This sentence can have two possible meaning, namely: Interpretation I (Noun) a thing that you are given because you have done something good, worked hard, and etc. Interpretation II To give something because they have done something good. Explanation: “reward” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word reward is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

3. We thought, at least they are no worse. (B.2) This sentence can have two possible meaning, namely: Interpretation I (Adj) doing something of poorer quality or lower standard; less good or more unpleasant. Interpretation II

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(Noun) more problem or bad news. Explanation: “worse” have two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word worse is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

4. The water wreaked the sky (A.10) This sentence can have two possible meaning, namely: Interpretation I Wreaked (Noun) a ship that has sunk or that has been very badly demaged. Interpretation II (Verb) to damaged or destroy something. Explanation: “wreaked” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word wreak is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

5. The transport of the bird- (F.6) This sentence can have two possible meaning, namely: Interpretation I Transport (Noun) a system for carrying people or goods from one place to another using vehicles, road or etc. Interpretation II (Verb) to take something/somebody from one place to another in a vehicle. Explanation: “transport” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word transport is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

6. I gathered from his talk (J.5) This sentence can have two possible meaning, namely: Interpretation I Talk (Verb) to say things, to speak in order to give information or to express feelings, ideas, etc. Interpretation II (Noun) a conversation or discussion. Explanation: “his talk” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word his talk is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

7. The sepulcher could hide ( I.6) This sentence can have two possible meanings namely: Interpretation I Hide (Verb) to put or keep something in a place where it cannot seen or found. Interpretation II

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(Noun) a place from which people can watch wild animal or birds, without seen by them. Explanation: “sepulcher” has two interpretations; it is called Lexical ambiguity because the word to hide is ambiguous. It is not clear about which sense is intended.

Table 4.11 The of the data into Katz’s type of ambiguity

No Data Type Of Ambiguity A B C D 1 The wind begun to rock the grass - - v 2 He flung a menace at the earth - - v 3 A menace at the sky - - v 4 The leaves unhooked themselves from trees - - v 5 The thunder hurried slowly - - v 6 The lightning showed a yellow beak - - v 7 And then a livid claw - - v 8 The cattle fled to barns - - v 9 There came one drop of giant rain - - V 10 The waters wreaked the sky - - v 11 We wondered when we child - - V 12 We thought, at least they are no worse - - v 13 When altered frequently - - v 14 We blush, that heaven if we achieve - - v 15 Event ineffable - - V 16 Were they industrious? - - V 17 That could their lips reply - - V 18 Were to them now, Homesickness - - V 19 After eternity - - V 20 Not if the just suspect me - - v 21 And offer the reward - - v 22 In that small deity - - V 23 It craved the grace to worship - - v 24 In full eternity - - v 25 A clemency so common - - v 26 We almost cease to fear - - V 27 To cast the ship, at sea - - v 28 And usher liberty - - v 29 The pleasures of the wind are broad - - v 30 Also with her bird and asteroid - - V 31 The limitations of the wind - - V

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32 And opening his mouth - - v 33 While everybody to corner the slunk - - V 34 Behind the awful power - - v 35 And nature ventured out - - v 36 How intimate, a tempest past - - V 37 The transport of the bird - - v 38 Then they do come- Rejoice! - - v 39 What Door What Hour run run My soul! - - V 40 Illuminate the house! - - V 41 He passed through Bethlehem - - v 42 Escape is such a thankful word - - V 43 No spectacle in sight - - v 44 The rest of life is drop - - v 45 Upon this trusty word - - V 46 My first well day since many ill - - V 47 To take my change with pain - - v 48 Should prove the strongest one - - V 49 A fond – illusive way - - v 50 To fade tomorrow rainbow held - - v 51 The Sepulcher could hide - - v 52 On every shoulder that she met - - V 53 Put up – to hide her parting grace - - v 54 One earns by measuring the grave - - v 55 Then measuring the grace - - v 56 He trod upon the trees - - V 57 And situated softly - - V 58 Nature had left behind - - V 59 A joyous going fellow - - V 60 I gathered from his talk - - v 61 Without apparent burden - - v 62 He was the faithful father - - V 63 His remedy for care - - v 64 A contrast to our respites - - v 65 How different we are - - v Total 0 0 25 40

Note: Type of ambiguity A: Phonetic Ambiguity B: Structural Ambiguity C: Referential Ambiguity D: Lexical Ambiguity

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Based on the table above, the most dominant type of ambiguity was found in Emily Dickinson’s poem is Lexical Ambiguity with the occurrences 40(61.53%), and followed by Referential Ambiguity with the occurrences 25(38.46%). The Result of Analysis

These are the following result of the data by drawing the graphic.

The Graph of The Analysis of Ambiguity found in Emily Dickinson’s Poems

After analyzing and categorizing the data into Katz’s type of ambiguity, the writer making the conclusion based on graphic above, from the four type of ambiguity there are only two types of ambiguity that were found in Emily Dickinson’s Poem, they are referential ambiguity and lexical ambiguity. Phonetic ambiguity can not be found in Emily Dickinson’s poem because phonetic ambiguity only found in the spoken language, while the structural ambiguity also can not be found in Emily Dickinson’s poems because structural ambiguity occurs when a phrase has more underlying structure. The total ambiguous sentences that found in Emily Dickinson’s poem are 65 sentences. The Referential Ambiguity is 25 sentences with occurrences (38.46%), and the total of lexical ambiguity is 40 sentences with (61.53%). The most dominant type of ambiguity that found in Emily Dickinson’s poem is Lexical ambiguity (61.53%) and then followed by referential ambiguity (38.46%). It shows that lexical ambiguity occurs in the lexeme, lexical ambiguity in that poem also known as part of semantic ambiguity because the meaning based on the good dictionary.

4.Conclusions

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Having analyzed the data, the writer made a conclusion based on the data analysis. The conclusion can be drawn as follows:

1. There are four type of ambiguity; they are phonetic, structural, referential, and lexical ambiguity. Phonetic ambiguity and structural is not applied in Emily Dickinson’s poems. Besides, referential ambiguity and lexical ambiguity are applied in Emily Dickinson’s Poems. 2. There are 65 ambiguous sentences was found in this research, the total of Referential ambiguity are 25 sentences (38.46%), and the total of lexical ambiguity are 40 sentences (61.53%). The writer concluded that lexical ambiguity is most dominant used in Emily Dickinson’s poems. It means that lexical ambiguity occurs in lexeme. Lexical ambiguity is also known as semantic ambiguity because the meaning based on good dictionary. 3. The most dominant type of ambiguity that is found in Emily Dickinson Poem is Lexical ambiguity (61.53%) and then followed by referential (38.46%). It shows us that lexical ambiguity is the mostly dominantly used in Emily Dickinson’s poem. It means that lexical ambiguity occurs in the lexeme. Lexical ambiguity also known as semantic ambiguity because the meaning based on good dictionary.

That implies that, to understand the meaning of sentences can help to comprehend the meaning of sentences, especially in poem. So it is important to understand the types of ambiguity to get right interpretation obviously in the language of poems.

It’s difficult for understanding the poem how, how to attack the poems the writer suggest try to understand the title and the context, and find some word/term that deal with title.

References

Aitchison, Jean 1978. Linguistics. New York: David Mckay Corporation.

Chierchia, G & Ginet, S. 1992. Meaning and Grammar. MassaChusetts: Institute of Technology

Creswell, John W. 2003. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and mixed methods approaches ( second editions). London : Sage Publications.

Hornby, A.S. 2000. Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press

Katz, J.J. 1979. Semantic Theory. New York: MassaChusetts: Institute of Technology

Kreidler, C.W.1998. Introducing English Semantics. London: Routledge

Palmer, J. 1983. Semantic. New York: Longman

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Robins. R.H. 1979. General Linguistics. An Introductory Survey Third Edition. London: University of London.

Sampson, G. 2001. Empirical Linguistics. London: Continuum.

Ullman, Stephen. 1977. Semantics: An Introduction to the Science of Meaning. London: Oxford Basil Blackwel

Http://everything2.com/title/phonological+ambiguity (accessed on May 10th, 2015 at 23:34)

Http://Poet org/poet org/poet/Emily-Dickinson (accessed on May 10th, 2015 at 23:34)

Http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/poetry (accessed on May 10th, 2015 at 23:34)

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