Spy Car Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 There is an article on Huffington Post that grammar-buffs may enjoy. I hope it doesn't violate "no politics" rules. Fair warning, there is a small mention that compares the current president's syntax with that of the past president, but that's not why I posted this. Some of your children may find it interesting too. Bill http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/what-sentence-diagrams-re_n_167988.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 But he doesn't actually write his speeches, correct? I was thinking most (all?) presidents employed speech writers. At any rate the diagramming will be interesting! I am a diagramming newbie. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 But he doesn't actually write his speeches, correct? I was thinking most (all?) presidents employed speech writers. At any rate the diagramming will be interesting! I am a diagramming newbie. :) The diagrammed sentence evidently came from an answer at a press conference, so I believe it's extemporaneous. And he is somewhat criticized (in this instance) for his use of ""copulative predicates" which tend to obfuscate some of the sample sentence's meaning. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 The diagrammed sentence evidently came from an answer at a press conference, so I believe it's extemporaneous. And he is somewhat criticized (in this instance) for his use of ""copulative predicates" which tend to obfuscate some of the sample sentence's meaning. Bill ETA: I should have said not have said "writings" in the topic heading. It is one long spoken sentence. My apologies. ETA #2 i didn't mean to quote myself. Double apologies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 No worries Bill, I'm still trying to figure out what the sentence in your reply means....off to dictionary.com I go! :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTMCassandra Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thanks for this! I found it very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 There is an article on Huffington Post that grammar-buffs may enjoy. I hope it doesn't violate "no politics" rules. Fair warning, there is a small mention that compares the current president's syntax with that of the past president, but that's not why I posted this. Some of your children may find it interesting too. Bill http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/what-sentence-diagrams-re_n_167988.html Yes, that was VERY cool to read!!! Not just how it was diagramed (my son said, "WOW!!"), but how the diagramer extracted meaning from that very long but understandable sentence, just by knowing grammar. I find I'm analyzing sentences more for meaning, too, as my grammar knowledge grows, too. Thanks for posting this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawn of ns Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Cool but it reinforced my decision to have my kids parse rather then diagram. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 So is the author of that article a professional diagrammar? I enjoyed looking at it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 (edited) 1) The diagram was intriguing, but I disagree with some of the interpretations, especially the prep. phrase modifying the verb in the middle of the diagram. ?? 2) I'd like to have seen a diagram of "sentences [that] are indistinguishable from Google Earth closeups of small rodents, drowned in mud puddles." Which do we think would have been more fun? ;) Let the picture do the talking, baby! Slinking back to my grammar curmudgeon box.... Valerie (who often sets off the Grammar Police with her online posts) Edited February 19, 2009 by Valerie(TX) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 small rodents, drowned in mud puddles :lol::lol::lol: Geez, where is the smilie for THAT? :lol::lol::lol: I thought the diagram was very cool. We are going to start Rod and Staff 3, where they intro diagramming, and I guess I'm a pretty big grammar nerd, because I can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanestMomInMidwest Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 So is the author of that article a professional diagrammar? I enjoyed looking at it. Thanks Oooohhh! Does this position exist? I would love to apply for professional diagrammer. I wonder what the pay for that would be, and if I could do it from home?.....now my wheels are turning.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 2) I'd like to have seen a diagram of "sentences [that] are indistinguishable from Google Earth closeups of small rodents, drowned in mud puddles." Which do we think would have been more fun? ;) Let the picture do the talking, baby! I think Kitty Burns Florey has an example in her book Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog. She also diagrams some of Sarah Palin's sentences in a Slate article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Cool but it reinforced my decision to have my kids parse rather then diagram. :D :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Oooohhh! Does this position exist? I would love to apply for professional diagrammer. I wonder what the pay for that would be, and if I could do it from home?.....now my wheels are turning.:D I was thinking the same thing! I would think it would be a ridiculous position but, then, I had no idea until a few months ago that people were actually still employed as philosophers, so there is hope for us. I think Kitty Burns Florey has an example in her book Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog. She also diagrams some of Sarah Palin's sentences in a Slate article. One of my favorite books. I actually have it set out to bring to a nerdy friend. Interesting how balanced that sentence is, diagrammed. It seems reflective of its owner. (And, before anyone starts beating the politics drum, I suspect that Michael Steele's sentences would display equal balance, which is also pretty on target for his style.) ~Angela, who is a dork on so many levels, her 4 year olds sometimes try to do deny they know her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Slate article. I loved reading this article!! Who knew that grammar could be so interesting and useful (not me)? I was especially struck by the part that asked if we really want to be led by leaders who don't think through and clearly answer straightforward questions "on their feet," when not writing or giving canned speeches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 I've always wished a mater-diagrammer would take on the first two lines from William Faulkner's novel Absolom, Absolom!. This link will get you a couple clicks away if you are curious. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679600728/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karenciavo Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 The diagrammed sentence evidently came from an answer at a press conference, so I believe it's extemporaneous. :hat: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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