Editing Conflation

{{Short description|Merging different sets of information, texts, ideas, opinions}}
{{other uses}}
'''Conflation''' is the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, or opinions into one, often in error.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haught |first=John F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Y9JMBqvGlMC&dq=conflation&pg=PA13 |title=Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation |date=1995 |publisher=Paulist Press |isbn=978-0-8091-3606-3 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref> Conflation is defined as 'fusing blending', but is often used colloquially as 'being equal to' - treating two similar but disparate concepts as the same. [[Merriam-Webster|Merriam Webster]] suggested this shift in usage happened relatively recently, entering their dictionary in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sometimes Subtle Difference Between 'Conflate' and 'Equate' |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/conflate-vs-equate-usage-difference |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>   

In [[logic]], it is the practice of treating two distinct [[concept]]s as one, which produces errors or misunderstandings as a fusion of distinct subjects tends to obscure analysis of relationships which are emphasized by contrasts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haught |first=John F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Y9JMBqvGlMC&dq=conflation&pg=PA14 |title=Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation |date=1995 |publisher=Paulist Press |isbn=978-0-8091-3606-3 |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref> However, if the distinctions between the two concepts may appear to be superficial, intentional conflation can be desirable for the sake of conciseness and recall.

==Communication and reasoning==
The result of conflating concepts may give rise to [[fallacies]] and [[ambiguity]], including the [[fallacy of four terms]] in a categorical [[syllogism]]. For example, the word "bat" has at least two distinct meanings: a [[Bat|flying animal]], and a piece of sporting equipment (such as a [[baseball bat]] or [[cricket bat]]). If these meanings are not distinguished, the result may be the following categorical [[syllogism]], which may be seen as a joke ([[pun]]):

:#All bats are animals.
:#Some wooden objects are bats.
:#Therefore, some wooden objects are animals.

Using words with different meanings can help clarify, or can cause real confusion. English words with multiple (verb) meanings can be illustrated by instances in which a motion is merged with or a causation with manner,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alexiadou |first=Artemis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wpw1uzoG5ysC&dq=conflation&pg=PA212 |title=Theoretical Approaches to Universals |date=2002-01-01 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing |isbn=978-90-272-2770-6 |pages=211–2 |language=en}}</ref> e.g. ''the bride floated towards her future.'' In this example, the bride may be married on a boat, airplane, or hot-air balloon, etc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Float|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/float|website=dictionary.reference.com|access-date=25 September 2015|location=Verb, item 3|quote=to rest or move in a liquid, the air, etc.}}</ref> She could be walking the aisle towards matrimony.<ref>{{cite web|title=Float|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/float|website=dictionary.reference.com|access-date=25 September 2015|location=Verb, item 4|quote=to move lightly and gracefully}}</ref> The verb "float" has multiple meanings, and both verb meanings in the example may be proper uses of a bride "floating" toward a future. The "manner" of the scene, described by further context, would explain the true meaning of the sentence.

In an alternate illustrative example, ''respect'' is used both in the sense of recognizing a right and having high regard for someone or something. We can ''respect someone's right'' to an opinion without ''holding this idea in high regard''. But conflation of these two different concepts leads to the notion that all ideological ideas should be treated with respect, rather than just the right to hold these ideas. Conflation in logical terms is very similar to [[equivocation]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

==Taxonomic conflation==
In linguistic, taxonomic conflation happens when a [[polyseme|polysemic]] term is on two or more taxic levels. This presents a difficulty in translation. An example is "sex-based conflation". For example, "spokesman", depending on the context, may mean a "spokesman who is man" and a  "spokeswoman".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Malone |first=Joseph L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PEY0U3umLRkC&dq=conflation&pg=PA112 |title=The Science of Linguistics in the Art of Translation: Some Tools from Linguistics for the Analysis and Practice of Translation |date=1988-01-01 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-653-5 |pages=112 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Amalgamation (names)]]
* [[Confounding variable]] in regression analysis
* [[Essentialism]]
* [[Portmanteau]]
* [[Skunked term]]
* [[Stemming algorithm]]
* [[Syncretism]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* Alexiadou, Artemus. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Wpw1uzoG5ysC  ''Theoretical Approaches to Universals.''] Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company. {{ISBN|978-90-272-2770-6}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/49386229  OCLC 49386229]
* Haught, John F. (1995). [https://books.google.com/books?id=1Y9JMBqvGlMC  ''Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation.''] New York: Paulist Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8091-3606-3}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/32779780  OCLC 32779780]
* Malone, Joseph L. (1988). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PEY0U3umLRkC  ''The Science of Linguistics in the Art of Translation: Some Tools from Linguistics for the Analysis and Practice of Translation.''] Albany, New York: [[State University of New York Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-88706-653-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/15856738 OCLC 15856738]

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|conflation}}
* [http://www.conflations.com Conflations]

[[Category:Concepts in logic]]
[[Category:Fallacies]]
[[Category:Concepts in the philosophy of language]]