Ambiguity can lead to Multiple Conc(l)usions
A friend introduced Prometheus to Lojban. Lojban is a syntactically unambiguous language. It was created by the Logical Language Group and is designed to be culturally neutral. Given that it has no irregularities or ambiguities and its grammar is based on predicate-logic, Lojban can be processed by a computer as well. Fascinating, isn't it?
At work, Prometheus NEEDS the unambiguous nature of programming languages. But off-work, ambiguity produces interesting results. Sample the following sentence, said to have five possible parsings. "Time flies like an arrow".
Prometheus hopes you enjoyed this post. Without second thoughts, he will not be able to find friends better than you.
Technorati tags: grammar languages ambiguity Lojban constructed+languages
9 comments:
Haha, that's blogger Prometheus back in form.
Well, if 'Time flies like an arrow' then 'Jimbo saw Ahab in the park with a telescope'.
And I saw the mountains flying over Denver!
This post makes me feel so ridiculously inept. Gotta look up this thingy.
Gonna comment on your past 3 posts...
1. Korekt Grammers: I'm guilty of no 6 all the time. And many others too....
2, To beta or not (as you can see, I've become lazy...) I'm contemplating too, but clicking on the yes tab when I visit pages of other converts have made me put off the move until blogger twists my arm, or leg or brain.
3. Yea, interesting post... as usual :)
I knew I'd gone overboard with that Chandru thing. My brain is working overtime now that my exams are on.
It's ok, Lizza. I needed the help of artificial intelligence to understand this post; my own intelligence was inadequate. And coz of that Prometheus will now have second thoughts every time he tries to make friends. *ear-to-ear-grin*
"Time flies like an arrow"
Is that Time flies like an arrow flies, or flies on time like arrows or you can time flies like you could time an arrow or...
You can see how one could become quite confused. Well, this one anyway, but is it only because I get bored easily and look for hidden messages or am I just annoying like, well, flies?
Merry (premature) Christmas Prometheus. :0)
Cara Mia Tish,
Or even Time Flies (like Fruit Flies) like arrows. or Time Flies that look like arrows.
Or Merry Christmas to you too.
I thought I was your only "Cara Mia"! *BOO HOO*
:D
Oh shit. Prometheus saw the L337 comment first and now this. Jules, Prometheus is yust kidding. Tish is a friend. Yeah, just a good friend. No, not THAT good. Prometheus was just playing Gomez Addams. No, not THAT kinda playing either. Jesus Christ.
Jules, you are the love of Prometheus' life!
See what a good pal I am, mon ami? My connection has been acting up lately, sorry to say. But I'll try to be here to support you.
Now go bring Jules a peace offering.
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