Klarinet Archive - Posting 000107.txt from 2000/02

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Jelly Doughnuts
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 23:23:00 -0500

On Wed, 02 Feb 2000 09:10:30 -0600, vfreyer@-----.net said:

> Look at it this way... the following two sentences derive completely
> different meanings from adding "a":
>
> I am Danish. (This describes my cultural heritage.)
>
> I am a Danish. (Short for Danish pastry, much like a jelly doughnut,
> describing my eating preferences.)

On looking at it again, I now see (perhaps) that you meant something
different here. I'm imagining that you're in a cafe, ordering, and you
say to the waitress, "I'm a Danish", meaning that that's your order. (I
think this is called a metonymy...Lelia?)

(Of course, the waitress now calls over the counter, "The suit's a
Danish, and the crewcut's a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler," because
you're treating one of your students:-)

But my point about the power of context still stands. I'm sure Kennedy
wasn't asking for a doughnut, and I'm sure you're not a pastry -- or a
suit for that matter.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

...Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

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