Amphibology » What it is, Characteristics, Concepts
Amphibology
What is amphibology?
Amphibology is the use of words with more than one interpretation. It is considered a vice of diction since it can generate errors in the communication process. But if its use is intentional, then it is a resource.
In this sense, amphibology is frequently used in the humorous or advertising field to generate an emotional impact on the public.
Amphibology comes from the Greek ἀμφίβολος , which means ambiguous.
Examples of amphibology
These examples can help you better understand what an amphibology is:
Men's fur coats for sale
Are the coats made of fur and are they for men or is human skin used to make coats?
I go alone to the street
Do you go unaccompanied to the street or do you go exclusively to the street?
Lucas is creative and Raúl is experienced. I will hire him.
Will you hire Luis or Raúl?
I met my friend when I was in a hurry to work
Who was in a hurry?
Arturo is a dog
Is the dog named Arthur or is someone named Arthur compared to a dog?
Carbon adult bikes for sale
Are bikes carbon or adults carbon?
I love the sofa in the living room that was dark
What was dark, the sofa or the living room?
He told the cops he didn't steal frequently
Was the person very insistent in saying that they did not steal or did they say that they do not steal often?
Grilled thirteen-year-old beef fillet will be served
Was the veal thirteen years old or was the meat thirteen years old on a griddle?
My friend went to his wife's work in his car
In whose car, his or his wife's?
Luis's animal
Does Luis have an animal or is Luis compared to an animal?
Iguana gift. Eat a lot. He loves dogs.
Is the iguana friendly to dogs or does the iguana eat dogs?
Ernesto spoke for only half an hour
Did Ernesto talk to himself for half an hour or did he only speak for half an hour?
The team plays at home
Does the team play in a home that they own or does the team play home?
Now I have a motorcycle and a bike. I lend it to you whenever you want
Do you lend the motorcycle or the bicycle?
The woman gave birth to the baby
Did the woman give birth to a baby or did she use a light to illuminate it?
They stole police dresses
Did the robbers have clothing similar to that worn by the police or did they wear dresses?
Ana went out with her friend and her husband
Did Ana go out with her husband or with her friend's husband?
It may interest you: Ambiguity.
What are the applications of amphibology?
Amphibology is a resource that is used in the humorous field, since it invites the receiver to discover the meaning of what was said to unleash its hilarity.
An example is in this quote from Les Luthiers :
Mastropiero was passionate about historical research. He spent long hours in the library of the opulent Marchioness of Quintanilla, whose volumes he was passionate about.
Was Mastropiero passionate about the volumes in the library or those of the Marchioness of Quintanilla?
In advertising, amphibology should be used with caution, since the goal is that any of the interpretations of the phrase favors the product to be promoted.
In addition, the use of ambiguity implies that the people who will be exposed to the advertising content must understand the pun for the resource to make sense.
An example of good use of amphibology in advertising was a slogan created in Argentina for a well-known brand of anti-dandruff shampoo:
For dandruff.
The shampoo is understood to be formulated for dandruff, but it could also be understood to "stop" dandruff. In this case, both interpretations benefit the product.