It probably requires some context (/research) to understand the context on this. (I certainly did). But I found the implications of this video utterly fascinating. There are a really quite large number of layers to analyze in this.
Its definitely possible to abuse good (or neutral) language features to produce intentionally obfuscated or unclear sentences.
The etymology of the word 'weird' here is interesting. I think its rootest-of-roots was actually a verb.
I think language just naturally allows verbification or other shifts when it 'feels' rights, and when there isn't another term that should clearly be used instead.
> The etymology of the word 'weird' here is interesting. I think its rootest-of-roots was actually a verb.
Ooooh, thank you for that rabbit hole/etymology adventure! For any others interested:
weird (adj.)
c. 1400, "having power to control fate, from wierd (n.), from Old English wyrd "fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates," literally "that which comes," from Proto-Germanic wurthiz (source also of Old Saxon wurd, Old High German wurt "fate," Old Norse urðr "fate, one of the three Norns"), from PIE wert- "to turn, to wind," (source also of German werden, Old English weorðan "to become"), from root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend."
[https://www.etymonline.com/word/weird]
Some stray phrases in the book led me to search some details of South African history that I didn't have a strong grasp on.
Somehow the various internet wide analytics decided this meant I should see this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guLmA6dWKes
It probably requires some context (/research) to understand the context on this. (I certainly did). But I found the implications of this video utterly fascinating. There are a really quite large number of layers to analyze in this.