From Wikipedia:
"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo, buffalo Buffalo buffalo" is a grammatically valid sentence in American English, used as an example of how homonyms and homophones can be used to create complicated linguistic constructs. [...]
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, New York, United States, which is used as a noun adjunct 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.
- Buffaloa buffalon Buffaloa buffalon buffalov buffalov Buffaloa buffalon."

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ReplyDeleteIf the labelling of "Buffalo(a) buffalo(n) Buffalo(a) buffalo(n) buffalo(v) buffalo(v) Buffalo(a) buffalo(n)."
ReplyDeleteis correct, then the sentence does not make any sense. Changing the adjectives and verbs to more recognizable ones it would read:
<> which is obviously nonsense
Mike
Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteYou can take a look here, where the sentence is parsed in multiple readings. It explains a bit more clearly how it's grammatically possible:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo#Sentence_construction
Basically, restated, it means: Buffalo from Buffalo, that buffalo from Buffalo buffalo, buffalo Buffalo buffalo.