this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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Memes

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[–] Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 102 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Surely you've thoroughly thought this through though?

[–] Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 45 points 5 months ago

It's tough.

[–] Slovene@feddit.nl 20 points 5 months ago

They did. And don't call them Shirley!

[–] tal@lemmy.today 8 points 5 months 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 5 months ago

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

[–] Static_Rocket@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months 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 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] Static_Rocket@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months 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 5 months ago

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

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 5 points 5 months ago

Nayeth, though thou hath thoroughly thought thots through.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago

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

[–] voik@ttrpg.network 31 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Holy shit this is really cool.

[–] perishthethought@lemm.ee 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] TehBamski@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Just like your mom! HA! GOTT'EM!

What hard working lady!

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months 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 5 months 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 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

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

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] Klear@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

msn messenger noises

[–] rotopenguin@infosec.pub 15 points 5 months ago

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

[–] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] MikeOToxin@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Ern Ern en Ern Ern

[–] 01011@monero.town 7 points 5 months ago

Too. Two. To.

[–] RustyEarthfire@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago

That's tough buddy

[–] thefrankring@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago
[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months 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 5 months 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

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 3 points 5 months ago (2 children)
[–] MikeOToxin@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

They sound the same though?

[–] Samsy@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

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