Ambiguity as a problem in Arabic language

Speech is ambiguous by nature and since we have no medium but only language to communicate, we have to face that issue. The ambiguity which inhers in nature of speech is not as the other one which emerges from grammatical and lexical reasons. In this study, ambiguity is studied on the basis of Arabic language with respect to its reasons, forms and is pointed out the difference between ambiguity (al-iltibas) and positive ambiguity. We have discussed the ambiguity rather on the basis of written language comparing thoughts of ancient scholars with of the modern linguists. Since the first periods, the scholars of Arabic language have considered ambiguity an obstacle that prevents communication and they have taken measures to clear it away. All kind of linguistic tool including its distinctive feature presumed to indicate to the meaning that detached from its author and context. Language serves on the basis of the duality sign-meaning, for that an occurrence of ambiguity means the absence of linguistic sign. However, ambiguity is not limited hereto. The language user is likely to be exposed to ambiguity because the linguistic ability to represent the reality based on the illusory certainty and the habitual relation of causality. For that, the ambiguity which gives chance to the understanding mind to be unique is positive while the ambiguity based on linguistic multifunctionality is negative.