This is so cool: Check out the story of Ladle Red Rotten Hut. Here’s the first paragraph:
Wants pawn term, dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift wetter murder inner ladle cordage, honor itch offer lodge dock florist. Disk ladle gull orphan worry ladle cluck wetter putty ladle rat hut, an fur disk raisin pimple colder Ladle Rat Rotten Hut.
I know, weird, right? Well, try reading it out loud. All will be revealed. Go on, no one is looking. Read it out loud. See what I mean?
The point of this exercise is to show how intonation is a key part of meaning. Visit the site to read and listen to the complete story.
H/t to David.
Mighty Red Pen 
Nonsense regardless of how I read it.
Comment by Chris Barts — November 18, 2010 @ 4:36 pm |
Is this supposed to mean something?
Comment by Chris Barts — November 18, 2010 @ 10:43 pm |
Hmm. Let’s see. It should sound like a very familiar children’s story. Maybe this will sound strange, but try reading it with a bit of a southern accent. That helped me. Or … did you go to the website and listen to the person reading it out loud? Good luck!
Comment by mighty red pen — November 19, 2010 @ 9:04 am |
Must only work with certain accents. Makes no sense at all with an Australian one.
Comment by Vireya — November 19, 2010 @ 6:54 pm |
Excellent, excellent, excellent! I’m going to try this with my advanced students. To those who haven’t visited the website, try stressing all three words in the first sentence equally. Sound familiar? Managed to translate everything except: “Daze worry on-forger-nut gulls lest warts”. That has me completely stumped. Any ideas?
Comment by Warsaw Will — November 20, 2010 @ 6:14 pm |
For Warsaw Will:
“These were the unfortunate girl’s last words.”
Merry Christmas
and
Have a nice evenin’.
Comment by C.E. Thurston — December 25, 2010 @ 2:34 pm |
I first encountered “Ladle Rat Rotten Hut” in 1956.
I once had it memorized, but had forgotten most of it.
So I searched for “Wants pawn term” and
Viola!
My favorite line is:
“O Grammar, water bag noise! A nervous sore suture anomalous prognosis!”
(Oh Gramma, what a big nose! I never saw
Past scrap:
Place red disk fur eddy vacation end in lied den amount.
http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html
Open disk yelps.
Comment by C.E. Thurston — December 25, 2010 @ 3:05 pm |
I first encountered “Ladle Rat Rotten Hut” in 1956.
I once had it memorized, but had forgotten most of it.
So I searched for “Wants pawn term” and
Viola!
My favorite line is:
“O Grammar, water bag noise! A nervous sore suture anomalous prognosis!”
(Oh Gramma, what a big nose! I never saw such an enormous proboscis.)
Past scrap:
Place red disk fur eddy vacation end in lied den amount.
http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html
Aye hop disk yelps.
Comment by C.E. Thurston — December 25, 2010 @ 3:12 pm |
Posed Crypt:
On secant end taught, discuss batter.
Marry Crispness!
Comment by C.E. Thurston — December 25, 2010 @ 9:14 pm |