5. Verbal Disagreements and FactualDisagreements
Disputes can arise about the meaning of language due to factorssuch as vagueness and ambiguity. Disagreements about the meaning oflanguage are called verbal disputes. By contrast, disputes can alsoarise over facts, such as whether a statement accurately reflects acertain actual state of affairs. Disagreements about facts arecalled factual disputes. When dealing with disputes, you shouldfirst determine whether a dispute is verbal or factual. If thedispute is verbal, then you should attempt to determine whether itis a result of vagueness or ambiguity.
Indicate whether each of the following disputes is a factualdispute or a verbal dispute. If the dispute is a verbal dispute,then also indicate whether the dispute arises from vagueness orambiguity. If the dispute is a factual dispute, answer \"notapplicable\" for the second portion of each question.
Dispute A
TREVOR: I can't believe that this artifact dates to over 10,000years ago. It is in remarkable condition for such an antiquatedfind.
GARY: I guess you haven't heard the bad news. It turns out thatradiocarbon dating has shown that the artifact is actually only2,000 years old.
Is Dispute A a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Verbal
Factual
If Dispute A is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute A is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Ambiguity
Not applicable
Dispute B
EDUARDO: Although Mr. Rivers has his quirks, he is still arelatively normal person.
FELICITY: Mr. Rivers cannot be normal. After all, he has a modelrailroad in his garage. No normal person his age would still playwith trains.
Is Dispute B a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Verbal
Factual
If Dispute B is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute B is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Ambiguity
Not applicable
Dispute C
VIVIAN: Last summer I was quite an adventurer. I climbed to thesummit of Mt. Dana in Yosemite. It was the first time that I hadclimbed a mountain over 14,000 feet in elevation.
BEAU: I think you need to keep on climbing, then! I hate tobreak the news to you, but Mt. Dana is just barely over 13,000 feetabove sea level.
Is Dispute C a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Verbal
Factual
If Dispute C is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute C is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Ambiguity
Not applicable
Dispute D
ELLIE: I have never met a person as mean as Mr. Jensen.
GARRETT: How could you possibly think that Mr. Jensen is anaverage person given all that he has accomplished?
Is Dispute D a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Verbal
Factual
If Dispute D is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute D is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Ambiguity
Not applicable
Dispute E
MARCOS: It was so exciting to go to the aquarium and see the newbaby dolphin exhibit. Dolphins are such amazing fish.
PAUL: You obviously did not read the information plaque next tothe dolphin tank. Dolphins are not fish but mammals.
Is Dispute E a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Factual
Verbal
If Dispute E is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute E is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Ambiguity
Not applicable
Dispute F
JEFF: Did you see on the news that the murder defendant wasfound innocent?
MALACHI: He's not innocent! He killed the victim alright; theprosecution just couldn't prove it!
Is Dispute F a verbal dispute or a factual dispute?
Verbal
Factual
If Dispute F is a verbal dispute, is the dispute a result ofvagueness or ambiguity? Mark \"not applicable\" as your answer ifDispute F is not a verbal dispute.
Vagueness
Not applicable
Ambiguity
