Diagramming Palin

[tpsbmam]

So let's take a crack at a few of Palin's doozies. From the Katie Couric interview:

It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where—where do they go?



Number 2:

I know that John McCain will do that and I, as his vice president, families we are blessed with that vote of the American people and are elected to serve and are sworn in on January 20, that will be our top priority is to defend the American people.



I had to give up. This sentence is not for diagramming lightweights. If there's anyone out there who can kick this sucker into line, I'd be delighted to hear from you. To me, it's not English—it's a collection of words strung together to elicit a reaction, floating ands and prepositional phrases ("with that vote of the American people") be damned. It requires not a diagram but a selection of push buttons.

http://www.slate.com/id/2201158/

(more at link)

[dkf]

1. Maybe that's why its 12th grade level. lol.

[Tansy_Gold]

2. I love this!!!! Brought a big smile to my face!

I used to teach creative writing and tried my damnedest to impress on my students that understanding grammar -- right down to being able to diagram sentences -- was the key to effective writing. the sentence is the foundational tool of the writer, and those who don't understand how to construct good sentences are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to writing clear prose.

When I first saw some of Palin's sentences in transcription I thought, gee, how ever would you diagram that shit? Well, now I know I wasn't the only one!


Tansy Gold, who considers Palinese to be one step up from gibberish, a.k.a. "speaking in tongues."

[Warpy]

3. Flight of ideas and word salad

don't lend themselves to diagramming, which is essentially a logical process applied to logical and well ordered thoughts.

That sentence can be diagrammed, but doesn't form itself into the benzene rings that Palin's contorted verbiage forms.

That gal just aint right, no matter how you approach it.

[Cresent City Kid]

6. benzene rings - classic

A well stuctured compound-complex sentence could be read from just just the diagram. I tried that with those and eyes now hurt.

[LoveOverGold]

4. Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0EfVT2pMlQ/SOaNAEWvVEI/AAAAAAAAA8o/uW8ISUFaUNU/s1600-h/Sarah+Palin+debate+flow+chart.jpg

link, pic not showing for some reason. It's pretty funny, check it out:
"hxxp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V0EfVT2pMlQ/SOaNAEWvVEI/AAAAAAAAA8o/uW8ISUFaUNU/s1600-h/Sarah+Palin+debate+flow+chart.jpg"
change "xx" to "tt"

[flor-de-jasmim]

5. When they gave her the sound bites, they forgot to tell her

that she's not supposed to just spit them out willy-nilly...

LOL

Love the diagramming attempt, but it makes her "verbage" look more coherent than it really is!