Saying One Thing, Meaning Another: Activities for Clarifying Ambiguous Language [Paperback]

Cecile Cyrul Spector (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Thinking Pubns (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888222107
• ISBN-13: 978-1888222104
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,953,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful, self-study or coached guide, August 22, 2000

By 

Cem Kaner, J.D, Ph.D. (Palm Bay, FL United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Saying One Thing, Meaning Another: Activities for Clarifying Ambiguous Language (Paperback)

The book covers key issues and provides exercises and answers.

I teach computer science professionals (experienced people in the field) as well as undergrad and graduate software engineering students. I primarily teach software testing and software-related law. Both require careful review of documents.

Many native English speakers are not aware of ambiguities in the materials they read and write, which leads to misunderstandings, errors, software defects, and surprising results from contracts. People who speak English as a second language often have a much more difficult time with ambiguities.

After reviewing this book, I plan to use it with several of my students, providing after-hours coaching. I expect it to be a useful supplementary text.

5.0 out of 5 stars Follow-up to my August 22, 2000 review of this book, May 28, 2001

By 

Cem Kaner, J.D, Ph.D. (Palm Bay, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saying One Thing, Meaning Another: Activities for Clarifying Ambiguous Language (Paperback)

Last August, I was impressed by this book and decided to try using it with my students, who are graduate and undergraduate computer science majors.

The book has been particularly helpful to students who speak English as a second language, but it provided useful insights to native English speakers as well. When I teach students about specification reviews (ambiguity is a big problem for specifications), I recommend this book highly.