Attachment ambiguity in "Frazz"

Language Log 2013-04-12

Summary:

Today's "Frazz" (via Ed Cormany on Twitter):The confusion here is reminiscent of the discussion on Neal Whitman's Literal-Minded blog about the expression, "I need to pee like a racehorse." Neal explains, "This is an example of an attachment ambiguity, in that we could theoretically attach the modifier like a racehorse to the 'lower' verb phrase [...]

Link:

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4566

From feeds:

Gudgeon and gist ยป Language Log

Tags:

Authors:

Ben Zimmer

Date tagged:

04/12/2013, 16:51

Date published:

04/12/2013, 09:25