Ambiguous Language Assignment
Ambiguous newspaper headlines Assignment
Headlines frequently try to be clever. For example, a sports story might say New York Jets Run Out of Fuel. A headline must communicate a lot of information in a small space. The words need to be chosen carefully. Some words or phrases can be read more than one way, and in a joke, this is often intentional. The headlines which follow contain meanings definitely not intended by the writer. These actually appeared in newspapers.
Your job is to figure out two things for the next 15 statements:
- What did the writer mean to say,
- and how else could the headline be interpreted.
For example: “Farmer Bill Dies in House”
Actual meaning: A proposed law has failed to survive the legislative process in the parliament (house).
Alternative interpretation: A farmer named Bill died.
- POLICE BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO RUN DOWN JAYWALKERS
- SAFETY EXPERTS SAY SCHOOL BUS PASSENGERS SHOULD BE BELTED
- DRUNK GETS NINE MONTHS IN VIOLIN CASE
- GIRL HIT BY CAR IN HOSPITAL
- IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS
- LUNG CANCER IN WOMEN MUSHROOMS
- TEACHER STRIKES IDLE KIDS
- REAGAN WINS ON BUDGET, BUT MORE LIES AHEAD
- SQUAD HELPS DOG BITE VICTIM
- MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH
- JUVENILE COURT TO TRY SHOOTING DEFENDANT
- STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BY TREE
- TWO SOVIET SHIPS COLLIDE, ONE DIES
- KILLER SENTENCED TO DIE FOR SECOND TIME IN 10 YEARS
- DRUNKEN DRIVERS PAID $1000 IN ’84
