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معنی، ابہام اور کثرتِ معنی

Meaning, Ambiguity, and Multiplicity of Meaning

Abstract

Since the inception of twentieth century, the tradition of linguistic analysis acquired prominence in the field of literary criticism. Tremendous advancement in philosophical systems based on language and linguistics and ever-increasing reliance of literary criticism on extraliterary disciplines were the primary reason for this prominence. In linguistic analyses, great importance is laid on the unearthing and retrieval of meaning, the predominant component of a literary piece. According to contemporary criticism, insistence on a singular meaning in literary texts is inessential as well as futile. Therefore, contemporary criticism, particularly postmodernism, emphasizes multiplicity of meaning. As far as ambiguity is concerned, a variety of unclear and preconceived notions exist. However, ambiguity in its true spirit is an expression of multiplicity of meaning. This article explores meaning of meaning, significance of ambiguity, and importance of the notion of multiplicity of meaning in a bid to ascertain some essential associative link among them.

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