Ambiguity issues with と when performing multiple roles

Question

My understanding of と:

• と performs listing

• と indicates reciprocal action

• The above two uses are indivisible from each other. That is to say that this particle is special in a sense that it always works in both senses. (I would like to assert a homologous relation to と to its Chinese counterpart 跟[gēn])

Consider:

1. AとBとCと会った

2. AとBとCが会談した

For the cases above, is it:

1. A with B with C

2. A with (B and C)

3. (A and B) with C

If all three are possible interpretations, how is the ambiguity resolved?

Can I resolve ambiguity by:

1. Using a pause when speaking. E.g. "Aと(pause)BとCと会った" to mean "A with (B and C)"

2. Using と again. E.g. "Aと[BとCと]と会った" or "Aと[BとC]とが会談した to mean "A with (B and C)"

Answer 1

Yes, they are ambiguous. No, there is no correct interpretation, so far as I can tell. English has the same sorts of problems. Consider:

A saw B as he walked down the boulevard with C.

Who was walking down the boulevard, and who was who walking with? In practice, no English speaker would wittingly use this sentence without an obvious implied interpretation. More likely, the speaker would avoid the ambiguity by using another grammatical construct.

The child saw Mr. Sanders as he walked down the boulevard with Mrs. Sanders.

Or

The child saw Mr. and Mrs. Sanders walking together down the boulevard.

In the case of the sentence 「AとBとCが会談した」, a Japanese speaker would likely use:

Aたちと会談した

BたちがAと会談した

... etcetera.