quote:Jayne reports that her neighbor had her car stolen.
I was given this sentance today, in psychology class, and told that it can be read eight different ways. The question is, what are all eight of them?
Posts: 1158 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Doesn't matter - sentence is spelled with an "e" not an "a" . . . (Hmphhh - some other wit said it first . . . rats!)
It also means that the listener should assume nothing and use some therapeutic encouraging statement to elicit additional information from the speaker . . .
posted
The first "her" could theoretically be a third person "her." Say the neighbor's name is Linda. There could be another person involved named, say, Melanie. The sentence could be, "Jayne reports that her [Melanie's] neighbor [Linda] had her car stolen." Granted, the sentence doesn't work that way unless there's some sort of context. But it's theoretically possible.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Gah, I missed that the her in "her neighbor" could be different from the her in "her car". So really there are 10 readings. The first her we'll call Anne. The second her we'll call Betty.
quote: Jayne reports that her neighbor had her car stolen.
Interpretations in order of likelihood:
1. Jayne reports that Jayne's neighbor had neighbor's car stolen.
2. Jayne reports that Jayne's neighbor had Jayne's car stolen.
3. Jayne reports that Jayne's neighbor had her (A) car stolen.
4. Jayne reports that her (Anne's) neighbor had her (Anne's) car stolen.
5. Jayne reports that her (Anne's) neighbor had her (Betty's) car stolen.
Okay, I think that's the limit of permutations on the nouns. So we'll add had (2) to indicate a deliberate arrangement of theft.
6. Jayne reports that Jayne's neighbor had(2) neighbor's car stolen.
7. Jayne reports that Jayne's neighbor had (2) Jayne's car stolen.
8. Jayne reports that Anne's Neighbor had (2) neighbor's car stolen.
9. Jayne reports that Anne's Neighbor had (2) Anne's car stolen.
10. Jayne reports that Anne's Neighbor had (2) Betty's car stolen.
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