Professor X assigns a paper in which students are to demonstrate "conceptual understanding by applying concepts to the real world." Professor X is surprised when many of the papers are extended examples of personal thought instead of being analyses of observations of society. The difference between what Professor X's words meant to the students and what the words meant to her/him reflects the fact that language is:
A) arbitrary.
B) ambiguous.
C) abstract.
D) inherent.
E) objective.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in interpretation between Professor X and the students illustrates the ambiguity of language, where words can have multiple meanings or interpretations depending on the individual's understanding or context.

Professor X Assigns a Paper in Which Students Are to Demonstrate