Lexical Ambiguity and Semantic Processing in Urdu Pun Words: An Explanation by Semantic Network Theory

Abstract

The study examines semantic processing and cognitive mechanism behind the comprehension of homographic puns in Urdu. Ten sentences of naturally occurring puns are analyzed using the psycholinguistic lens of Semantic Network Theory, with the aim to investigate how a single orthographic and phonological form can activate multiple semantic nodes having competing interpretations. Findings highlight that lexical ambiguity of pun words initiate parallel activation of divergent conceptual domains and multiple semantic nodes. Three kinds of structural ambiguities were observed – homophones/homonyms, proper name/common (abstract) name and derivational/category ambiguity. These insights contribute to psycholinguistics by emphasizing how ambiguity is negotiated within multilingual context.