Comments on: Gym, Word Crash http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/ Sarah Aswell Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:10:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Sarah B. http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-4275 Sarah B. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:44:06 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-4275 This is known as a syllepsis, not a word crash! A syllepsis is "a particular type of zeugma in which the clauses are not parallel either in meaning or grammar. The governing word may change meaning with respect to the other words it modifies. This creates a semantic incongruity which is often humorous. Alternatively, a syllepsis may contain a governing word or phrase which does not agree grammatically with one or more of its distributed terms. This is an intentional construction bending the rules of grammar for stylistic effect." (Wikipedia: Zeugma) I saw the definition in a novel and thought about your post, how maybe it would help you get back on track on your workouts if you had a name for the grammatical adventure before you, and pain! This is known as a syllepsis, not a word crash!
A syllepsis is “a particular type of zeugma in which the clauses are not parallel either in meaning or grammar. The governing word may change meaning with respect to the other words it modifies. This creates a semantic incongruity which is often humorous. Alternatively, a syllepsis may contain a governing word or phrase which does not agree grammatically with one or more of its distributed terms. This is an intentional construction bending the rules of grammar for stylistic effect.” (Wikipedia: Zeugma)

I saw the definition in a novel and thought about your post, how maybe it would help you get back on track on your workouts if you had a name for the grammatical adventure before you, and pain!

]]> By: darwin duck http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3275 darwin duck Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:52:27 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3275 Heh. The elevator in my building had a notice on it: "For an emergency, dial [number]." I sometimes felt like calling and asking for an emergency...but I probably would have gotten in trouble, especially if I had backed it up with: "Then there's a wording emergency here, morons." Heh. The elevator in my building had a notice on it: “For an emergency, dial [number].” I sometimes felt like calling and asking for an emergency…but I probably would have gotten in trouble, especially if I had backed it up with: “Then there’s a wording emergency here, morons.”

]]> By: repenttokyo http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3259 repenttokyo Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:43:23 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3259 don't get down about riding an exercise bike - it is perfectly acceptable cardio activity, particularly at high resistance. don’t get down about riding an exercise bike - it is perfectly acceptable cardio activity, particularly at high resistance.

]]> By: sarah http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3258 sarah Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:48:54 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3258 mike (my brother) - ask yourself this: would anyone ever say, "After I fell, I felt pain and dizzy"? A robot might, but not a human. Or look at Fred's example above: "I feel hungry and texture." You can feel both things, but you would never pair them together because the word FEEL itself can be used in two different ways. ...and i might take offense of your use of "its"! mike (my brother) -

ask yourself this: would anyone ever say, “After I fell, I felt pain and dizzy”?

A robot might, but not a human. Or look at Fred’s example above: “I feel hungry and texture.” You can feel both things, but you would never pair them together because the word FEEL itself can be used in two different ways.

…and i might take offense of your use of “its”!

]]> By: Your brother http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3257 Your brother Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:37:21 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3257 Is this really wrong? Could you not re-write it as, "Stop excercising if you feel pain, feel faint, feel dizzy, or feel out of breath."? I think its legit, grammar nazi. Is this really wrong?

Could you not re-write it as, “Stop excercising if you feel pain, feel faint, feel dizzy, or feel out of breath.”?

I think its legit, grammar nazi.

]]> By: tertio http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3256 tertio Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:12:30 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3256 I am not even gonna try. I am not even gonna try.

]]> By: sarah http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3255 sarah Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:03:45 +0000 http://sarahaswell.com/2008/07/30/gym-word-crash/#comment-3255 hilary - yes, PAIN is the big problem, and the sentence would read fine without it. i guess it's an even stranger case of parallel structure to me because the one that doesn't fit comes at the beginning, when usually with these cases the one that doesn't fit comes at the end. I think "pained" would still bother me... it isn't quite right either - in fact, it sets off a few minor grammar "arlarms." april, fred, and eema - HA! hilary - yes, PAIN is the big problem, and the sentence would read fine without it. i guess it’s an even stranger case of parallel structure to me because the one that doesn’t fit comes at the beginning, when usually with these cases the one that doesn’t fit comes at the end. I think “pained” would still bother me… it isn’t quite right either - in fact, it sets off a few minor grammar “arlarms.”

april, fred, and eema - HA!

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