Ambiguous / Ambivalent
Both ambiguous and ambivalent are adjectives.
The root ambi means “on both sides”.
Ambiguous = unclear, vague, unspecified, open to many interpretations
Ambivalent = torn between two sides; inability to make a choice due to the desire to do two conflicting things at the same time
Ambiguous
It is uncommon for ambiguous to describe a person. The word “ambiguous” is more likely attributed to a person’s words, instructions, directions, etc. These words/instructions/directions may be unclear and open to several interpretations, causing them to be vague.
Our teacher’s assignment was completely ambiguous; we all had trouble figuring out exactly what she wanted from us.
Ambiguity (the noun form of “ambiguous”) can be a powerful tool, working both for and against whoever is aware of its existence.
It can be especially problematic in the field of law, where the ambiguity of laws or text significantly affects the outcomes of cases. Lawyers commonly argue about the ambiguity of a law to further their own causes. This is accomplished by several ways, one of which requires an examination of context – the way the law was originally intended, and how the current situation (or, the case) maps onto that intention.
Ambiguity can be a positive in both literature and humor. Many jokes rely on the ambiguity of words – words that have two meanings, based on context. Puns are a type of joke favored by Shakespeare, who is famous for creating literature with layers of meaning and interpretation.
Ambivalent
Remember – ambi comes from the Latin for “both”. Valence comes from the Latin root for “strength”. Someone is ambivalent when he/she has strong feelings for something, but the feelings are opposed to one another. For example, simultaneously loving and hating someone. A person is ambivalent when the choice between two things is not possible because he/she keeps changing his/her mind.
Some popular phrases associated with ambivalence:
- love/hate relationship
- torn between a rock and a hard place
- sitting on the fence
- mixed feelings
Lisa could not decide how she felt about the wedding cake; it tasted divine but was extremely expensive. She grew ambivalent – she wanted the cake and hated it at the same time.
Ambivalence (the noun form of “ambivalent”) is not to be confused with indifference. Indifference implies a lack of desire – someone has indifference to a decision that does not matter to him or her. Ambivalence, however, implies a great deal of caring, to the point that the person cannot make a decision.
Ambivalence has significance in the field of psychology. An ambivalent person has an internal conflict – he/she has feelings about someone or something that are at battle. The simultaneous love and hatred toward one’s mother is a popular Freudian concept. This entails a description of the coinciding attraction and repulsion toward one’s mother, in a struggle for dependence versus independence. This emotion can be applied to money – many people have a love/hate relationship with money, as it represents both good and bad.
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