Legal Definitions - ambiguitas latens et ambiguitas patens

AMBIGUITAS LATENS ET AMBIGUITAS PATENS

Ambiguitas latens et ambiguitas patens refer to two types of ambiguity in language. Latent ambiguity occurs when a statement or phrase is unclear or has multiple meanings that are not immediately apparent. Patent ambiguity, on the other hand, is when a statement or phrase is ambiguous on its face and can be interpreted in more than one way.

• Latent ambiguity: "I saw her duck." This sentence could mean that the speaker saw a woman lower her head to avoid something, or that the speaker saw a duck that belonged to her.
• Patent ambiguity: "I need to buy a new dress for my daughter's wedding." This sentence could mean that the speaker needs to buy a dress for their daughter to wear at her wedding, or that the speaker needs to buy a dress for themselves to wear to their daughter's wedding.

These examples illustrate the difference between latent and patent ambiguity. In the first example, the ambiguity is not immediately apparent and requires further context or clarification to understand the intended meaning. In the second example, the ambiguity is clear from the outset and can be interpreted in more than one way without further context.