Search the lexicon

Found:

Scope ambiguity

SYNTAX/SEMANTICS: the kind of ambiguity that arises when an operator can enter into different scope relations with other scoped elements. EXAMPLE: (i)a has the two readings (i)b and c. In (ib) every farmeris construed as having scope over a donkey and in (ic) a donkey is construed as having scope over every farmer:

(i) a  Every farmer loves a donkey
    b  For every farmer there is a donkey such that he loves him
    c  There is a donkey such that every farmer loves him

LIT. May, R.C. (1977)
Montague, R. (1974)