1. Clarify Ideas and Concepts
Chapter 4
Clarify Ideas and Concepts

2. Interpretation, Context, and Purpose
How Precise Is Precise Enough?
Language and Thought
Vagueness: “Where Are the Boundaries, Does the Term Include This Case or Not?”
Problematic Vagueness
Ambiguity
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3. Interpretation, Context, and Purpose
“Which Sense of the Term Are We Using, Does it Mean This, or Does it Mean That?”
When a word, expression, or statement has more than one meaning, we call it ambiguous
Problematic Ambiguity
When ambiguity leads to troublesome misunderstanding or uncertainty
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6. Resolving Problematic Vagueness and Ambiguity
Contextualizing
Clarifying Original Intent
Negotiating the Meaning
Using Qualifications, Exceptions, or Exclusions
Stipulating the Meaning
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10. Your Language Communities
Resolving Vagueness and Ambiguity
National and Global Language Communities
People who shared an understanding of the meanings of the words and icons
The meanings of the words that form a given language are conventional
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11. Your Language Communities
Language Communities Formed of People with Like Interests
Academic Disciplines as Language Communities
Critical Thinking and College Introductory Courses
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