Buffalo buffalo buffalo: One-word sentences and how they work - Emma Bryce
904,906 Views
4,801 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
‘Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo’ is a grammatically correct sentence. How? Emma Bryce explains how this and other one-word sentences illustrate some lexical ambiguities that can turn ordinary words and sentences into mazes that mess with our minds.
Here's another one, except in this case the words are easier to tell apart because some of them are spelt differently. Explain what you think this sentence means: "Rose rose to put rose roes on her rows of roses."
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Emma Bryce
- Animator Henry Chung, Noel Wong, Plamen Ananiev
- Narrator Addison Anderson
