10.20.08
Cold case
There’s bad grammar, and then there’s Freudian grammar. “Weighing three tons, I was lucky that I didn’t collide with the truck” is at the very least distracting, as well as potentially confusing. The truck weighs three tons, not me. I—svelte guy that I am—weigh in at just under half that weight, thankyouverymuch. That’s bad grammar (well, it’s not technically bad—it’s more a missed opportunity for effective writing through clear connection).
Then there’s Freudian grammar. As recently reported:
Asked if Gov. Sarah Palin has become a drag on his ticket, McCain said, “As a cold political calculation, I could not be more pleased.”
Mr. McCain is a cold political calculation? As I said, there are failed communications. And then there are Freudian slips.
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WordPorn said,
October 20, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Oh good lord, that’s priceless. Both a mangling of the language, and a bit of insight into his real motives. Lovely!
Everything You Know About English Is Wrong » My clause are out said,
November 5, 2008 at 1:01 am
[...] little while back, I wrote of an instance of Freudian grammar, quoting a news report in turn quoting John McCain: “Asked if Gov. Sarah Palin has become a [...]