English sentences without overt grammatical subjects. A linguistic exploration of the f-word’s unusual place within the English language. (From LanguageHat.)
The murmur of the snarkmatrix…
August § The Common Test /
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Jon Schultz § Bless the toolmakers /
Jon Schultz § Bless the toolmakers /
Matt § A leaky rocketship /
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Robin § A leaky rocketship /
P. Renaud § A leaky rocketship /
Jay H § Matching cuts /
4 comments
Linguistics quiz.
One of these things is not like the others:
1. Wash the dishes and fuck you.
2. Go fuck Lyndon Johnson.
3. Describe and fuck communism.
4. Fuck these seven irregular verbs.
5. Fuck communism on the sofa.
Answer?
I am baffled!
#1 seems different… because the implicit object (subject?) of ‘fuck’ is ‘I’, not ‘you’?
I also say it is #1, but not because the implicit subject is ‘I’. Rather ‘fuck’ doesn’t appear to function as a verb insofar as it is lacking a subject entirely. It appears to be a command, but it can’t be.
I finally actually read the paper linked up. “Metapornolinguistics.” Awesome.
The snarkmatrix awaits you