Check out this article in Wikipedia. It's about a particular linguistic oddity....
"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" is a grammatically correct sentence used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated constructs.
I had to keep reading and squint for a while before I got what it's saying, but yeah, it does work. That doesn't make it any less freaky, though, LOL!
I love stuff like this. :)
Angie
7 comments:
My brain hurts just looking at it.
I think I'll go home and nap now.
WW -- My eyes were crossed for longer than I like to admit while I tried to work it out, heh.
Charles -- probably a good idea. [nodnod]
Angie
I think it needs some commas and buffalo as a verb is new to me. Without the knowledge (and understanding) of buffalo as a verb, the sentence is meaningless. I have to mentally substitute bully for buffalo at the point it is used as a verb for it to make any sense.
Richard -- I've heard "buffalo" as a verb before, but not for a very long time and it was never terribly common. I don't think the point was to necessarily come up with a sentence which would be instantly comprehensible by anyone, although that would've been neat. It's a stunt to make people squint or go cross-eyed or say, "Wha--??" and maybe make a point about how screwy English can be. From that POV, I think it succeeded. :)
Angie
I'mma need more coffee..
Hi Angie, I followed a link to a link adn then got here. *looks around* Wow.
Hi!
Jess -- wait, my Jess? Jess-and-Katie Jess? Cool! Welcome to my home away from LJ. [grin/hugz]
Angie
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