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Which way?
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:03 pm
by metal56
In which way would you, personally, interpret the following type of sentence?
"Some people {murder/lynch/assassinate/massacre/execute} easily."
1. "Some people" is equivalent to "some killers".
2. "Some people" is equivalent to "some victims".
3. Other.
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:01 pm
by lolwhites
I'd pick option 4 - Impossible to say without context, though in fact highly unlikely to be said outside the context of a grammar exercise.
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:35 am
by metal56
lolwhites wrote:I'd pick option 4 - Impossible to say without context, though in fact highly unlikely to be said outside the context of a grammar exercise.
Are you sure?
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:15 pm
by lolwhites
Unsure about it being impossible to say without context or unsure as to its likelihood of being said in the real world (Rasputin notwithstanding
)
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:02 pm
by Stephen Jones
victims
Ambiguity
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:12 pm
by revel
Hey all!
Though I see both sides of the coin, I'd try to avoid ambiguity by saying that the victims are easily (put in your favorite death-wish) while the person or persons carrying out the sentence would be described as in metal's original sentences.
peace,
revel.
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:21 pm
by metal56
Stephen Jones wrote:victims
Interesting. Most people who have "met" that sentence read it as "killers".
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:06 pm
by fluffyhamster
This certainly is a bit more interesting than exploding suitcases (not that I am a killer, or a suitcase exploder for that matter).
Most people who have "met" that sentence read it as "killers".
Hmm, did their eyes go all glassy and their mouths start twitching or something?
