Hi
On a less serious note, here's a posting looking at a more humorous aspect of English.
Sometimes the English language can present examples of usage which are very slightly contradictory and create an amusing opposite to the intended meaning.
Often the wrong choice of vocabulary or synonym can provide an amusing outcome.
Study the examples below and see if you can identify why they are seen as humorous.
Warning on the grounds of a private school:
No trespassing without permission.
Of course, in the above example, the term trespassing is an illegal act which takes place without permission. The result is a contradiction.
On an African River highway:
Take notice: When this sign is under water, this road is impassable.
How can you see the sign if it is underwater?
On a poster in the USA:
Are you an adult that cannot read? Is so, we can help.
How can you understand the sign if you cannot read?
In a city restaurant:
Open seven days a week, and weekends too.
Does this mean that there are nine days in a week?
A sign on an automatic restroom hand dryer:
Do not activate with wet hands.
Why would you use it if not to dry wet hands?
In a Indian maternity ward:
No children allowed.
Since a maternity ward in the place where people give birth to children it would be difficult to enforce this rule!
In the lobby of a Moscow hotel:
You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.
The confusion here lies in the fact that the reader is likely to think that famous Russians get buried every day except on Thursdays and not that they are permitted to visit the cemetery every day.
Hope you enjoyed that!
