What ability does the sentence "Visiting friends can be a nuisance" test in a person's language competence?

What ability does the sentence "Visiting friends can be a nuisance" test in a person's language competence?

• A. Recognize syntactic ambiguity
• B. Interpret metaphoric language
• C. Distinguish homophones using syntactic cues
• D. Recognize a semantically anomalous sentence

Answer: (A)

The ability tested by the sentence "Visiting friends can be a nuisance" is the recognition of syntactic ambiguity. This sentence can be interpreted in two different ways due to the position of the phrase "visiting friends." It can mean that the act of visiting friends is annoying or that friends who are visiting are bothersome. Understanding this ambiguity requires the ability to parse the syntax of the sentence and recognize how it can lead to different meanings based on structure. This recognition is an important aspect of linguistic competence since it reflects an individual's understanding of how certain constructions can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on their syntactic arrangement. This ability to navigate and understand such ambiguities is crucial for effective communication and comprehension in everyday language use.

The ability tested by the sentence "Visiting friends can be a nuisance" is the recognition of syntactic ambiguity. This sentence can be interpreted in two different ways due to the position of the phrase "visiting friends." It can mean that the act of visiting friends is annoying or that friends who are visiting are bothersome. Understanding this ambiguity requires the ability to parse the syntax of the sentence and recognize how it can lead to different meanings based on structure.

This recognition is an important aspect of linguistic competence since it reflects an individual's understanding of how certain constructions can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on their syntactic arrangement. This ability to navigate and understand such ambiguities is crucial for effective communication and comprehension in everyday language use.