Wednesday, May 19, 2010

It's inadequate, and I like it!

If you've hung around me any significant length of time, I've probably either corrected you on an incorrect use of words, or I've asked you to clarify an ambiguous statement. For instance, the statement, "That was a cheap shirt!" can mean A) the shirt was inexpensive, B) the shirt was poorly made, or C) both. If I'm thinking about buying the shirt, I want to know if it's A, B, or C.

However, despite my best efforts to ensure people make clear, correct statements, the English language is fundamentally flawed. It is inadequate as a vehicle for perfectly explicit communication. The crazy thing is: I love it. Here's a stupid joke:

A carrot walks into a bar. The bartender says, "We don't serve food here."

This joke is only possible because English, like any language, has words that are allowed multiple meanings. Or how about this terrible joke:

A string walks into a bar. The bartender says "We don't serve strings here." So the string leaves the bar, and goes crazy: convulsing, twisting, and rubbing himself all over the ground. He then walks back into the bar and asks for a drink. The bartender says "Hey, aren't you that string I just told to get lost?" And the string says, "No, I'm a frayed knot."

This joke works because of those annoying little things we learned about in grade school called "homophones."

Our world would be a dull place without our language's pitfalls of ambiguity, even if it means I still don't know if I should buy that cheap shirt or not.

18 comments:

rigtenzin said...

I read the whole post and couldn't find a single joke.

I went to comicon and missed seeing you. I also broke my phone and lost your phone number, but didn't realize this until I was on the way to the fair grounds.

Sarah M. said...

Ah! The string joke is my favorite joke. I tell it to everyone.

Anonymous said...

Hey! Thanks so much for the props you posted. That has to be one of the single most physically powerful compliments anyone has ever given me. Also, I'm trying to figure out if you're actually someone I know from the comic jams...? Who the heck ARE you?

Davoh said...

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of
the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on
his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather
frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath.
This made him ?..
A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

Selachimorpha said...

I hope you're having a wonderful day
Bandar Judi Slot Joker338
Agen Slot Online Joker338
Bermain Slot Game di Joker338
Judi Slot Online di Agen Joker338
Tembak Ikan di Agen Joker338

Selachimorpha said...

Hope this email finds you well
Tembak Ikan Joker123
Joker123
Jadwalbola.info
Tumbuhanberkhasiat.web.id
Slot Joker338 Online

Selachimorpha said...

I hope you enjoyed your weekend
Tembak Ikan Play338
Game Slot Online
Agen Joker338 Online
Game Slot Agen Joker123
Situs Play338 Online

Odobenus rosmarus said...

Thanks for the quick response
Main Slot di Agen Joker338
Situs Joker123
Tembak Ikan Joker123
Judi Slot Joker123
Joker123 Situs Game Ikan

Odobenus rosmarus said...

Thanks for getting in touch
Joker123 Situs Slot Game
Slot Joker123 Terpopuler
Game Slot Joker123
Game Ikan Joker123
Jackpot Slot Online

Odobenus rosmarus said...

Thanks for getting in touch
Agen Joker123 di Indonesia
Game Joker123
Judi Slot Joker338
Slot Play338 Online
Judi Tembak Ikan Joker338

culicidae said...

Thanks for getting in touch
Jackpot Slot Joker338
Slot Arenagaming88 Online
Agen Joker123
Situs Joker123 Terpopuler
Situs Tembak Ikan

culicidae said...

Thank you for the update
Joker123 Situs Game Ikan
Judi Slot Joker123
Tembak Ikan Joker123
Situs Judi Slot Terpopuler
Slot Joker123

culicidae said...

Thanks for getting in touch
Joker123
Tembak Ikan Joker123
Judi Slot Joker123
Agen Joker Gaming
Agent Joker338

culicidae said...

Thank you for the update
Tembak Ikan Arenagaming88
Tembak Ikan Joker388
Game Slot Joker388
Situs Joker388
Joker388

Diptera said...

Thank you for your help
Joker388 Judi Ikan
tembak ikan joker123
daftar joker123
Slot Joker123
Joker123

Diptera said...

I hope you're having a wonderful day
Sejarah Slot Joker123
Slot Joker123 Game
Agen Slot Joker123
Joker123 Sloting Online
Bermain Slot Joker123

Diptera said...

Thank you for the update
Slot Joker123
Slot Online Joker123
Tembak Ikan Play338
Slot Joker123 Game
Agen Tembak Ikan Serverbola

Diptera said...

I'm eager to get your advice on...
Joker123 Sloting Online
Bermain Slot Joker123