The English language has 26 letters, A to Z. Yet it
has managed to compile one of the largest vocabularies in the world languages.
When the English language has an inadequate word, it
has happily absorbed words from other foreign languages. Many words like
cummer-band, berandah, banglow, chai, ayah, Jaldi, shabaash, chota peg have
been a regular part of English language dating back to British East India
times.
At the end of the 2nd World War, 1945,
there were thousands of Americans posted in Europe and the Far East.
The Occupied countries, happy to please the
Victorious and Occupying forces quickly learnt English or Americanees! (Americans
English).
Here, the Indians have an advantage. We have been
exposed to the English language for 300 years. For a lot of Indians English is
no longer a foreign language!
Now back to the word Paraprosdokians. The word comes
from the Greek words “against” and “exceptions”.
These words or sentences are used for humorous
effect when the latter part of the sentence is unexpected to how the sentences
start. Often it produces an anti-climax, but always humourous.
Here are some examples:-
· Where there’s a will, I want
to be in it
· The last thing I want to do
is hurt you..... but it’s still on my list
· Since light travels faster
than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak
· If I agreed with you, we
would both be wrong.
· We never really grow up....
we only learn how to act in public.
· War does not determine who
is right, only who is left.
· Knowledge is knowing a
tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
· To steal ideas from one
person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
· I didn’t say it was your
fault, I said I was blaming you.
· You do not need a parachute
to sky dive. You only a parachute to sky dive twice.
· I used to be indecisive, but
now I am not so sure.
· To be sure of hitting the
target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
· Going to church doesn’t make
you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
· You’re never too old to
learn something stupid.
· I am supposed to respect my
elders, but its getting harder and harder for me to find one now.