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-- The most bizarre grammatically correct sentence ever...

The most bizarre grammatically correct sentence ever...

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

"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. It has been discussed in the literature since 1972 when the sentence was used by William J. Rapaport, currently an associate professor at the University at Buffalo. It was posted to Linguist List by Rapaport in 1992.

Thus, the sentence when parsed reads as a description of the pecking order in the social hierarchy of buffaloes living in Buffalo:

1) [Those] (Buffalo buffalo) [that] (Buffalo buffalo buffalo) buffalo (Buffalo buffalo).

2) [Those] buffalo(es) from Buffalo [that are intimidated by] buffalo(es) from Buffalo intimidate buffalo(es) from Buffalo.

3) Bison from upstate New York who are intimidated by other bison in their community also happen to intimidate other bison in their community.

* source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo

Hahahahhaaha. Wow.

Hahah, my friend had just emailed me that a few days ago.

Amazing how the internet is so cyclical.

Unless I'm missing something, the sentence (although grammatically correct) doesn't seem to make much sense. For example, if we replace "Buffalo" (PN) with let's say "Miami", and "buffalo" (V) with "intimidate", then the sentence becomes:

"Miami buffalo Miami buffalo intimidate intimidate Miami buffalo"

:/

I don't think you'd be able to understand what the above sentence is trying to convey without adding some key words.

Homonyms and homophones?

Shouldn't this be in the pride thread?

Everything 'homo' is getting bashed over there.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur Unless I'm missing something, the sentence (although grammatically correct) doesn't seem to make much sense.

Try this:

It may be revealing to read the sentence replacing all instances of the animal buffalo with "people" and the verb buffalo with "intimidate". The sentence then reads

"Buffalo people [that] Buffalo people intimidate [also happen to] intimidate Buffalo people."

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker Try this: It may be revealing to read the sentence replacing all instances of the animal buffalo with "people" and the verb buffalo with "intimidate". The sentence then reads "Buffalo people [that] Buffalo people intimidate [also happen to] intimidate Buffalo people."

I read that part, but as I said, what makes the sentence understandable are the words "that" and "also happen to". Without them, it's just nonsense.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur Without them, it's just nonsense.

To you maybe.

some profs just have too much time on their hands... lol

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmic Fur Without them, it's just nonsense.

I concur.

quote:

Originally posted by Cribby I concur.

You're all nonsense!

It is technically grammatically correct, but it's also incredibly grammatically awkward, since it contains no articles or punctuation. Nobody would ever actually write a sentence like this, even if it were referring to a different place and used a synonym for "Buffalo" (like their example, "Intimidate").

Or, to put it another way: "You're a buffalo!!!"

Why wouldn't

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

not be grammatically incorrect? If Fcuk can be used as a noun, adjective, verb, adverb, etc... why can't the above be correct?

Spectacular.

I like this, but I'm also drunk presently. So. Buffalo.

Hey.

oh and i agree with cosmic fur as well, thats nonsense without the addition of extra words.

Re: The most bizarre grammatically correct sentence ever...

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker 1) [Those] (Buffalo buffalo) [that] (Buffalo buffalo buffalo) buffalo (Buffalo buffalo). 2) [Those] buffalo(es) from Buffalo [that are intimidated by] buffalo(es) from Buffalo intimidate buffalo(es) from Buffalo. 3) Bison from upstate New York who are intimidated by other bison in their community also happen to intimidate other bison in their community.

Buffalo and Bison are not the same thing BTW.

Oh and another thing...there is no bufallo in Buffalo or anywhere in North America, unless its a zoo.

Fuck fuck Fuck fuck fuck fuck Fuck fuck

Here's another irregularity of the English language.

How would you pronounce the word - GHOTI ?

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.

If you're familiar with George Bernad Shaw, or you've heard this one before you probably yelled, "FISH" and you'd be right (well, as right as you can be when dealing with an imperfect language).

GHOTI broken down into the various sounds - GH / O / TI

gh, /f/ as in laugh, /l��f, l����f, la��f/;
o, /ɪ/ as in women, /ˈwɪmɪn, ˈwɪmən/; and
ti, /ʃ/ as in nation, /ˈneɪʃən/.

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker To you maybe.

Can you honestly say that, without having read the explanation, and the breakdown of the sentence, it made any sense to you?

I've always loved (perfext) grammar...
Seeing this is WOOOW

quote:

Originally posted by chinamon Fuck fuck Fuck fuck fuck fuck Fuck fuck

you're all stoners. apart from the above which makes absolute sense, just try and go out tomorrow and talk to people with "buffalo repeated" or whatever and see how people react.

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