Language Fallacies

Question 1

What is Equivocation?

Answer 1

When the same term or concept is used in two or more different senses during the course of an argument

Question 2

Explain this example of Equivocation:
“My mom told us not to go swimming right after lunch. I’m not swimming, I’m on a bodyboard.”

Answer 2

The mom used the word “swimming” to say that the kid should not go into the water. The boy used the word “swimming” as if he were actively swimming inside the water.

Question 3

What is Amphiboly?

Answer 3

When the grammatical structure of the argument is ambiguous

Question 4

Explain this example of Amphiboly:
“Let’s eat Grandma.”

Answer 4

Without the comma between “eat” and “grandma”, it would be that the people will eat grandma. With the comma between “eat” and “grandma”, it would be that they are telling grandma, “let’s go eat”

Question 5

What is Accent?

Answer 5

When ambiguity is caused by voice inflection (including sarcasm, irony, innuendo, or even facial expression).

Question 6

What is Slanting

Answer 6

Using language of approbation or disapprobation to tell people whether they should like or dislike something without proving that it is good or bad

Question 7

What is an example of Slanting that we see every day?

Answer 7

Propaganda

Question 8

What are Slogans?

Answer 8

Not a fallacy per se. It is something used in place of an argument.

Question 9

What is Hyperbole?

Answer 9

An exaggeration of somehings which confuses the proper inference with an absurd extension

Question 10

Explain this example of Hyperbole:
“X: Eat your vegetables.”
“Y: Are you trying to kill me?!?”

Answer 10

X provides an argument, but to avoid it Y gives an over the top reply to confuses X.

Question 11

What is Straw Man?

Answer 11

refuting or attacking a weak version of your opponent’s argument rather than his actual argument