what kind of a language is english?

[homer]

If anyone can come up with a grammatically legitimate English sentence that uses five "that"s in a row, I'll hand out a prize. BTW, it exists. I just have to say that I'm very glad to have english as a first language (sympathy to everyone else--at least, all non-native english speakers who feel they need to learn this strange language).

[bighairydog]

Easy - like this:

When a friend asked me to critique his boss' report for grammatical correctness, I told him that that 'that' that that guy had used was incorrect - he should have said 'which'.

Here's two harder ones:

1) How about 11 'had's in a row, in one sentence.

2) Punctuate this: "that that is is that that is not is not is that it it is" to make a sentence.

Bernie :o)

[homer]

Well. I'm impressed.

2) Punctuate this: "that that is is that that is not is not is that it it is" to make a sentence.

Well, I can't make one sentence out of it, but I can make four:
That that is, is. That that is not, is not. Is that it? It is. (with the help of my mother-in-law).

1) How about 11 'had's in a row, in one sentence.

Okay, I concede defeat on that. I guess it's appropriate enough, that a citizen of the place that invented the language would be able to overcome a silly upstart American.

I do have to say, though, that I can't figure out how the word "Worcester" is pronounced "Wooster" or something like that. What's the deal with that?

[scruffy]

A chinese friend of mine told me a phrase that consisted entirely of the syllable 'ma' with different intonations, and meant something along the lines of.

Mother wants to ride the donkey, but the donkey won't move. Mother gets angry and shouts.

Of course I hadn't a hope of pronouncing it, which was rather the point.

[bighairydog]

Originally posted by homer
How about 11 'had's in a row, in one sentence.

Okay, I concede defeat on that. I guess it's appropriate enough, that a citizen of the place that invented the language would be able to overcome a silly upstart American.

It relies on knowledge of early English public school grades (a bit unfair on Anerican competitors really). Written on your work you'd have the comment 'had', if you had errors in your work, or 'had had', if you had had errors, but successfully removed them. Hence:

James, whilst Peter had had 'had', had had 'had had', 'had had' had had the examiners approval.

Ta DAH!

And scruffy - nice one. I once heard a single 18ish syllable German word consisting of only three syllable sounds, meaning "a man who attempts to murder the aunt of an African Chieftain’s wife"

Bernie :o)

[scruffy]

Well, I can't guess all of that, but someone who assassinates (or tries to assassinate) an aunt would be a 'Tantenattentäter' though.

[bighairydog]

Yeah, mthat was the end of it (I'll try and dig up the word). Must have had more than 3 sounds, but it was still cool.

Bernie :o)

[Lessthanmighty]

You guys have a lot of free time don't you?

Just think, if they had people working on finding new technologies as hard as you guys think up this stuff, do you know how far more advanced we would be.

Just kidding. Keep up the good work.