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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Irregular Declensions -- humorous
There's a joke form that goes like this:
I am the life of the party.
You are amusing.
He is obnoxious.
The idea is that all three actions or characteristics are roughly synonymous. The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject.
Three questions:
1. I seem to remember this called an Irregular Declension. Is thatcorrect? Is there another term for them?
2. Was this form coined by a famous writer or wit? It seems "OscarWilde"-ish to me for some reason.
3. Are there collections of these on the web or in books? Have there beencompetitions held and results published?
In any case, better examples of the form would be gratefully received. In searching the Web I found only a few, and those are politically charged. This is what makes me think there may be some other name for them.
Thanks
JoAnne
I am the life of the party.
You are amusing.
He is obnoxious.
The idea is that all three actions or characteristics are roughly synonymous. The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject.
Three questions:
1. I seem to remember this called an Irregular Declension. Is thatcorrect? Is there another term for them?
2. Was this form coined by a famous writer or wit? It seems "OscarWilde"-ish to me for some reason.
3. Are there collections of these on the web or in books? Have there beencompetitions held and results published?
In any case, better examples of the form would be gratefully received. In searching the Web I found only a few, and those are politically charged. This is what makes me think there may be some other name for them.
Thanks
JoAnne
Top answer
[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ...
- [nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party.
- You are amusing.
- He is ...
- The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject.
- [/nq] ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these.
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ... The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject. ...[/nq]
ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these.
"Irregular Verbs" I think they called them.
ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these.
"Irregular Verbs" I think they called them.
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JoAnne Schmitz had it:
[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ... synonymous. The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject.[/nq]
The oldest one I know is:
Horses sweat
Men perspire
Women glow.
It's certainly referred to as "an irregular ***", w
[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ... synonymous. The difference is in how the observer perceives the action or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject.[/nq]
The oldest one I know is:
Horses sweat
Men perspire
Women glow.
It's certainly referred to as "an irregular ***", w
00
[nq:2]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am ... or characteristic based on his relationship to the subject. ...[/nq]
[nq:1]ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these. "Irregular Verbs" I think they called them.[/nq]
Yes Minister:-
I give a confidential briefing
You leak
He is in breach of the Official Secrets Act
Ida Goode-Johnson
[nq:1]ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these. "Irregular Verbs" I think they called them.[/nq]
Yes Minister:-
I give a confidential briefing
You leak
He is in breach of the Official Secrets Act
Ida Goode-Johnson
00
[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ... questions: 1. I seem to remember this called an Irregular Declension. Is that correct? Is there another term for them?[/nq]
"Declension" refers to the inflection of nouns; ergo I think you mean "Irregular Conjugations".
[nq:1]In any case, better examples of the form would be gratefully rec
"Declension" refers to the inflection of nouns; ergo I think you mean "Irregular Conjugations".
[nq:1]In any case, better examples of the form would be gratefully rec
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[nq:2]ISTR "Monty Python" had several of these. "Irregular Verbs" I think they called them.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes Minister:- I give a confidential briefing You leak He is in breach of the Official Secrets Act[/nq]
I sit in
you sit in
he or she sits in
we sit in
you sit in
THEY KILL
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
[nq:1]Yes Minister:- I give a confidential briefing You leak He is in breach of the Official Secrets Act[/nq]
I sit in
you sit in
he or she sits in
we sit in
you sit in
THEY KILL
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
00
[nq:1]There's a joke form that goes like this: I am the life of the party. You are amusing. He is ... 3. Are there collections of these on the web or in books? Have there been competitions held and results published?[/nq]
My memory is of reading about these in some work by Bertrand Russell. I believe he called them simply 'declensions'. I've always assumed that he formalized the sequence, if h
My memory is of reading about these in some work by Bertrand Russell. I believe he called them simply 'declensions'. I've always assumed that he formalized the sequence, if h
00
The usage isn't refering really to verbs any more than nouns, the intent being metaphorical. I think 'declension' has a certain I don't know what that 'conjugation' lacks.
"Throw me that lipstick, darling, I wanna redo my stigmata."
+-Jennifer Saunders, "Absolutely Fabulous"
"Throw me that lipstick, darling, I wanna redo my stigmata."
+-Jennifer Saunders, "Absolutely Fabulous"
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