You spelling pedants
09 August 2008, 12:31 AM
#91
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It translates as: "bison from the city of Buffalo whom bully bison from the city of Buffalo bully other bison from the city of Buffalo".
It just goes to prove that proper grammar can sometimes obfuscate the issue
even more than text speak.
It's difficult to make sense of the sentence construction because modern English tends to put the various component words of the sentence in different places than was usual some years ago, so that when certain words implied by the grammar are omitted, the sense of the thing falls apart. It doesn't help that there's a circular argument in there, too.
09 August 2008, 11:52 AM
#93
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09 August 2008, 12:07 PM
#94
This conundrum is based upon the three meanings of buffalo. Buffalo the American city, buffalo the American bison and buffalo the verb meaning to intimidate or bully.
It translates as: "bison from the city of Buffalo whom bully bison from the city of Buffalo bully other bison from the city of Buffalo".
It just goes to prove that proper grammar can sometimes obfuscate the issue
even more than text speak.
It's difficult to make sense of the sentence construction because modern English tends to put the various component words of the sentence in different places than was usual some years ago, so that when certain words implied by the grammar are omitted, the sense of the thing falls apart. It doesn't help that there's a circular argument in there, too.
It translates as: "bison from the city of Buffalo whom bully bison from the city of Buffalo bully other bison from the city of Buffalo".
It just goes to prove that proper grammar can sometimes obfuscate the issue
even more than text speak.
It's difficult to make sense of the sentence construction because modern English tends to put the various component words of the sentence in different places than was usual some years ago, so that when certain words implied by the grammar are omitted, the sense of the thing falls apart. It doesn't help that there's a circular argument in there, too.
That was taking it to extremes, but your point remains valid. There is a website which campaigns for 'clear english', that is, English which is grammatically correct but without going to the extremes of becoming just as confusing as poor English.
Plain English Campaign | Homepage
I must say, I agree in parts with the principal of it, but it'd be a shame to 'level out' some of the nuances which make the language what it is. I'm definitely more a supporter of prescriptive grammar than descriptive grammar.
09 August 2008, 12:57 PM
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09 August 2008, 01:47 PM
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09 August 2008, 04:01 PM
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09 August 2008, 04:06 PM
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10 August 2008, 08:08 PM
#103
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The board of education would not go far wrong adopting teaching methods that are applied in the EU.
There is something very wrong when foreigners have a better grasp of the English language than people born here.
Perhaps society is to blame, people outside the UK are not hearing slang words, text speak etc so their use of English language is purer.
There is something very wrong when foreigners have a better grasp of the English language than people born here.
Perhaps society is to blame, people outside the UK are not hearing slang words, text speak etc so their use of English language is purer.
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