4.25.2009

EXTENDED BUFFALO

"The sentence can be extended to eleven buffalos:

Buffaloa buffalon Buffaloa buffalon buffalov buffalov Buffaloa buffalon Buffaloa buffalon buffalov.

In other words, bison from Buffalo that (other) bison from Buffalo intimidate, in turn intimidate bison from Buffalo that (other) bison from Buffalo intimidate. In this case the subject and object of the central verb are "balanced" at five words apiece.

In a common journalistic style, it can be extended further, to twenty-one buffalos:

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, Buffalo: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, Buffalo buffalo Buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo Buffalo, buffalo.

This version can be broken down like this:

Buffaloa1 buffalon1 Buffaloa2 Buffalon2, Buffalon3: Buffaloa3 buffalon4 Buffaloa4 Buffalon5, Buffaloa5 buffalon6 Buffaloa6 Buffalon7 buffalov1 Buffaloa7 buffalon8 Buffaloa8 buffalon9 Buffaloa9 Buffalon10, buffalon11.

In other words, this is an announcement from Buffalon3 by a group called "Buffaloa2 Buffalon2" who are bisonn1 from Buffaloa1. They address this announcement to bisonn4 from Buffaloa3 who call themselves "Buffaloa4 Buffalon5" (themselves). The announcement says: the bisonn6 from Buffaloa5 who call themselves "Buffaloa6 Buffalon7" intimidatev1 bisonn8 in Buffaloa7 who call themselves Buffaloa9 Buffalon10 (themselves) and are intimidated by other bisonn9 in Buffaloa8. They also intimidate other bisonn11 in general.

... The shortest is 'Buffalo!', meaning either 'Bully (someone)!', or 'Look, there are buffalo here!', or 'Behold, it is the city of Buffalo!'"

Via wikipedia.

Buffalo.

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