Table talk - Buffalo buffalo buffalo...

[Mitchell Andrus]

Sometimes, someone says somthing during dinner that warrants further investigation. Here is a clever conversation starter:

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

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


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

Marking each "buffalo" with its use as shown above gives you:
Buffaloa buffalon Buffaloa buffalon buffalov buffalov Buffaloa buffalon. Thus, the sentence parsed:
[Those] (Buffalo buffalo) [whom] (Buffalo buffalo) buffalo, buffalo (Buffalo buffalo).[Those] buffalo(es) from Buffalo [that are intimidated by] buffalo(es) from Buffalo intimidate buffalo(es) from Buffalo. "Buffalo buffalo (main clause Subject) [which the] Buffalo buffalo (subordinate clause Direct Object) buffalo [subordinate clause Verb] buffalo [main clause Verb] Buffalo buffalo [main clause Direct Object]."


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

Homonyms and homophones can twist your brain.

Anyone have another?
.

[Ted Calver]

Nope, ya got me buffaloed.

[Carlos Alden]

I grew up in Buffalo... does that count?

Carlos

[Lee Schierer]

I drove past Buffalo yesterday does that count?

[Mitchell Andrus]

I drove past Buffalo yesterday does that count?

Yes, Lee. It does.
.

[Doug W Swanson]

I like Buffalo wings....

Doug

[Lee Schierer]

I like Buffalo wings....

Doug

If that counts then I score twice as we had Buffalo wings last night though not in Buffalo at the Anchor Bar.:D

[Carlos Alden]

Okay, don't mean to hijack this lovely thread, but "Buffalo Wings" has been uttered so intevene I must. Having grown up in Buffalo, then moved away, I have lamented the lack of good genuine wings to be found anywhere. Here is the recipe I use that pretty well duplicates good wings. Enjoy:

http://nachoceltic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=122

Carlos

[Randy Cohen]

I can see Buffalo Mountain from my window and have hiked up it a couple of times.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/natural_area_preserves/buffalo.shtml