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M$1 February 26, 2009 11:54 PM

Is "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo." a sentence? Can you diagram it?

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February 27, 2009 12:10 AM
Yes, it is a sentence. According to Wikipedia, that sentence is used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated constructs.

Buffalo, in addition to the animal and the city, also means “to bully, confuse, deceive, or intimidate.” As such, it can be parsed a few different ways:
  • Bison from Buffalo intimidate (other) bison from Buffalo that are intimidated by bison from Buffalo
Wikipedia goes on to say:

[To further understand the structure of the sentence, one can replace
"Buffalo buffalo" with any number of noun phrases. Rather than
referring to "Buffalo buffalo" intimidating other "Buffalo buffalo",
one can use noun phrases like "Alley cats", "Junkyard dogs", and "Sewer
rats". The sentence then reads, "Alley cats [whom] Junkyard dogs intimidate [also happen to] intimidate Sewer rats."]


Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffal...
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/13120



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February 27, 2009 02:01 AM
Believe it or not, this sentence is grammatically correct and has meaning:
“Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.”

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1niFwW2V8rA/R70n4RaGxAI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ipx-5FTbltc/s320/bison.jpg

First devised by professor William J. Rapaport in 1972, the sentence uses various meanings and parts of speech for the term “buffalo” (and its related proper noun “Buffalo”) to make an extremely hard-to-parse sentence.

Although most people know “buffalo” as both a singular and plural term for bison, and “Buffalo” as a city in New York, “buffalo” is also a verb meaning “to bully, confuse, deceive, or intimidate.” Using these definitions, Wikipedia suggests the sentence can be read:

[Those] (Buffalo buffalo) [whom] (Buffalo buffalo buffalo) buffalo (Buffalo buffalo).

Still too hard to follow for those of us who don’t know “buffalo” as a verb. Refine once more:

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

And once more:

Bison from Buffalo, New York who are intimidated by other bison in their community also happen to intimidate other bison in their community.

The sentence is unpunctuated and uses three different readings of the word "buffalo". In order of their first use, these are

* c. the city of Buffalo, New York (or any other place named "Buffalo"), which is used as an adjective in the sentence and is followed by the animal;
* a. the animal buffalo, in the plural (equivalent to "buffaloes" or "buffalos"), in order to avoid articles (a noun);
* v. the verb "buffalo" meaning to bully, confuse, deceive, or intimidate.

Wikipedia has further explanation, including the slightly frightening note:

Buffalo is not the only word in English for which this kind of sentence can be constructed; any word which is both a plural noun and a plural form of a transitive verb will do. Other examples include dice, fish, right and smelt.

Beware of Buffalo buffalo, buffalo, for they may buffalo you!

http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/BuffaloBuffalo/buffalobuffalo.html


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February 27, 2009 03:36 AM
They said enough I think on the Buffalo & buffalo...what I can read here is an "ART of languages and comprehension". Just like saying in Latin Mnemonics "Malo malo malo malo" not Mahalo though...hmmm maybe let's come up with something Mahalo halo instead?

Malo: I would rather be

Malo: In an apple tree

Malo: Than a naughty boy

Malo: In adversity
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_mnemonics#Examples_and_analysis


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February 27, 2009 06:25 AM
I have to say that this isn't anything more than a hypothetical justification on behalf of an English community, who will accept a novel riddle when fed to them as an official "truth" of grammatical establishment. The "code" Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo might be grammatically correct, but it's not a sentence. No, this kind of thing is an arbitrary dose of twisted rubbish. An authority who dictated a symbol of a relevant authority, inspired by an authority of grammar. This man: William Rapaport is, or was, undoubtedly, an honored man of language. If he wasn't already, he should have been working for the CIA in special communication coding; the undercover bureau of special investigative junkies: "deep cover." Without the proper prepositions or at least one coma, I only support Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo. It does work for six, that I know. However, 8 strung together, let alone seven, breaks the fundamental rules of syntax. THAT, is why it isn't acceptable. But then again, I'm not the president of Wikipedia. The grammar authority god. The master of "loopholes."
Source(s):
My unorthodox mind.


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