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May 10, 2005

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Please F*** You

English sentences without overt grammatical subjects. A linguistic exploration of the f-word’s unusual place within the English language. (From LanguageHat.)

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Posted May 10, 2005 at 5:55 | Comments (4) | Permasnark
File under: Briefly Noted

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?

Posted by: Tim on May 10, 2005 at 07:14 PM

I am baffled!

#1 seems different... because the implicit object (subject?) of 'fuck' is 'I', not 'you'?

Posted by: Robin on May 11, 2005 at 11:13 AM

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.

Posted by: Dan on May 11, 2005 at 12:12 PM

I finally actually read the paper linked up. "Metapornolinguistics." Awesome.

Posted by: Robin on May 12, 2005 at 11:43 PM
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