Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

So the other day I was using Wikipedia's random article feature (to get topics for work), and I got this:

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Naturally, my inital reaction was, what the fuck with all the buffaloes. But I read the rest of the wiki page, and it said that that long unintelligible string of buffalo is actually a grammatically correct sentence.

Needless to say, I was like "!?!??" My co-worker and I were like, no seriously, how the fuck is that a sentence? But after a while, I got it. It is a grammatically sound sentence, and it makes sense. First, you have to take note of the usages of the word buffalo: a modifier (Buffalo, New York), a noun (buffalo the animal), and a verb (to buffalo: to intimidate).

So in this sentence, "Buffalo buffalo" is a noun phrase that means "buffalo (the animals) from Buffalo (New York)". The next three words actually modify that phrase. We have:

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo..."

which means, the Buffalo from buffalo that are buffaloed by buffalo from Buffalo.

STILL WITH ME? Let's move on. Talking about those buffalo, we proceed with the rest of the sentence:

"...buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

So the aforementioned Buffalo buffalo, who are buffaloed by Buffalo buffalo, also buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

To make it clearer:

The Buffalo buffalo that Buffalo buffalo buffalo likewise buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

or

The Buffalo buffalo which are buffaloed by Buffalo buffalo also buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

This entry is lovingly dedicated to my grammar Nazi friends~. ♥ :3

x x x x x

An announcement of sorts: I think I'll do Project 365. :D