this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
533 points (98.4% liked)

Memes

51033 readers
1523 users here now

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 
all 36 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 103 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Surely you've thoroughly thought this through though?

[–] Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 46 points 1 year ago

It's tough.

[–] Slovene@feddit.nl 20 points 1 year ago

They did. And don't call them Shirley!

[–] Static_Rocket@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I feel like there needs to be a comma somewhere in that sentence but I don't know why...

[–] NathanUp@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Static_Rocket@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's my first thought, but my brain keeps trying to inject one immediately following "Surely." No idea why.

[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Knowing there should be a comma in the sentence, is half the battle. Knowing why... is the other half.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" is a grammatically correct sentence in English that is often presented as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated linguistic constructs through lexical ambiguity.

[–] Stern@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Do love me some annoying wordplay, like the Chinese poem Lion-Eating Poet in the Stone Den

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

Nayeth, though thou hath thoroughly thought thots through.

...I spend a lot of my time thinking while waiting in the drive-thru.

[–] voik@ttrpg.network 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Holy shit this is really cool.

[–] perishthethought@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, but wow, that just keeps going and going...

[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Just like your mom! HA! GOTT'EM!

What hard working lady!

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo" is a grammatically correct sentence in English that is often presented as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated linguistic constructs through lexical ambiguity. It has been discussed in literature in various forms since 1967, when it appeared in Dmitri Borgmann's Beyond Language: Adventures in Word and Thought.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo

[–] Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In German, we have "Wenn Fliegen hinter Fliegen fliegen, fliegen Fliegen Fliegen nach". Notice that all nouns are capitalized in German.

[–] PlexSheep@infosec.pub 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But that one is really easy to understand when you know German, unlike the buffalos

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yup. I know a bit of German, but that doesn't help with the buffalos at all.

[–] rotopenguin@infosec.pub 15 points 1 year ago

From Dr Seuss's "The tough coughs as he ploughs the dough"

[–] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Depending on the location, "Aaron earned an iron urn" is an interesting example in spoken language.

[–] MikeOToxin@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Ern Ern en Ern Ern

[–] RustyEarthfire@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

That's tough buddy

[–] 01011@monero.town 7 points 1 year ago

Too. Two. To.

[–] thefrankring@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago
[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That's why everyone learning English should also learn basic IPA to be able to read phonetic transcription and pronounce words correctly.

Just knowing the symbols for all English vowels/consonants is fine, no need to study IPA more than that, unless you find it interesting, like me.

I recommend reading this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_phonology.

Just look up consonant and vowel charts here, you don't need to study the details unless you really need to. Especially given that this article is full of linguistic jargon, and you probably won't be able to understand any of this unless you have elementary knowledge of phonetics/phonology.

[–] rockerface@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

In Ukrainian schools they teach English with IPA broad transcription. And most paper dictionaries I had also had the transcriptions next to the words. It was very helpful in remembering the pronunciation

[–] Samsy@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Hard to speak, too? Just put a hot potato in your mouth.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] MikeOToxin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

They sound the same though?