INCORRECT PUNCTUATION, AS A CAUSE OF AMBIGUITY ANDMISUNDERSTANDING IN WRITTEN COMMUNCATION
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract :
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
INTRODUCTION
Punctuation is one of the major aspects that contribute to meaning of any written discourse. This implies that correct the use of punctuation in written communication enhances meaning and fluency which facilitates comprehension and effective communication
However, when punctuation marks are used incorrectly, it generally alters meaning and creates ambiguity in written discourse which leads to ineffective communication.
This research is taken to investigate how incorrect punctuation creates ambiguity and misunderstanding in written communication. This will be achieved by examining selected scripts of UG III students of Modern European Languages and Linguistics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, thereby evaluating the causes of ambiguity in the essays with regards to the incorrect use of punctuation.
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Punctuation is the use of punctuation marks within a written text to enhance its meaning or fluency or to indicate aspect of pronunciation. Punctuation is one of the most important aspects of written communications. In fact, it is the basic features of any written discourse that gives meaning to the written words. Hence, an error in punctuation can convey a completely different meaning as against the intended one, thereby, making communication incomprehensible and ambiguous. Therefore, it is important in any written discourse for one to know the functions of punctuation marks, their meaning and when to use them in order to provide a good piece of comprehensible written discourse, and more importantly to convey the correct message.
Over the years, writing system was mostly logographic and syllabic (such as Chinese and Maya scripts) which had no capitalization or punctuation. Nevertheless,some its purposes as long as the writing was restricted or limited to business transactions e.g. writings used for recording business transactions.
However, with the introduction of standard system of punctuation, written discourse came to be seen from a new dimension where rules of punctuation are strictly considered as the basic part of meaning of any written discourse.
The introduction of standard system of punctuation is generally attributed to Aldus Manutius and his grandson who popularized the practice of ending sentences with full stop, colon and occasional use of comma and parenthesis. However, the use of punctuation marks was not standardized until after the invention of printing which indicated the rules of punctuation in writing. Shortly after the invention of printing, punctuation thus, served as a guide in ascribing meaning in written discourse which aids and facilitates comprehension.
Following this invention, punctuation marks over the years have been developed (such as full stop, comma, colon, semi-colon, hyphen, Apostrophe, question marks, exclamation mark, bracket among others) to provide proper expression of meaning in writing and to convey a well comprehensible written discourse. However, up to date, these punctuation marks came to be seen as an aspect that contributed to the meaning of written communication. Hence, incorrect punctuation may distort or affect meaning in written discourse which creates ambiguity that hinders effective communication in written discourse. Thus, this reveals that punctuation is a basic part of meaning in written communication and its incorrect use will no doubt create ambiguity.
Therefore, from this theoretical framework, this study examines selected scripts of UG III Students of Modern European Languages and Linguistics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto in order to explicate how incorrect punctuation creates ambiguity and misunderstanding in written discourse which hinder effective communication.
Related Project Materials
STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTO TECHNICAL TRAINING
Abstract: This study explores strategies for integrating environmental education into techn...
THE ROLE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING IN STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING
Abstract:
This study examines the role of management accounting in strategic decision-making in Lagos S...
THE MENACE OF FULANI HERDSMEN BANDITRY ATTACKS ON NIGERIAN CHURCHES.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is aimed at having an empirical investigation into the menace of her...
NOVEL NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING MODELS FOR MEDICAL TERMS AND SYMPTOMS DETECTION IN TWITTER
ABSTRACT
This dissertation focuses on disambiguation of language use on Twitter about drug use, consumption types of drugs, drug le...
INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS WELFARE ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS
ABSTRACT
This study focus on influence of teachers’ welfare on students academic performance in s...
ASSESSMENT OF LECTURERS’ ICT COMPETENCIES IN THE USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN UNIVERSITIES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to assess Lecturers‟ ICT Competencies in the Use of Electronic Information Resources for Teaching...
MISREPRESENTATION OF AFRICA IN BROADCASTING MEDIA
Background of the study
Communication has been an effective tool of conveying knowledge throughout hist...
EFFECT OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ON CAREER CHOICE AMONG EMPLOYED YOUTHS
EXCERPT FROM THE STUDY
Searching for a job, career planning and deciding on what to choose play an important role in students career choi...
EFFECT OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR CHOICE OF CAREER
Abstract
This study examined the impact of vocational Guidance on career choice of secondary school students in Enugu S...
THE IMPACT OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF NON PROFIT MAKING ORGANIZATIONS IN OSOGBO
Background of the study
The word non-profit making organizations explained that the organizations are n...
