On unpaired negatives: I once participated in a discussion where it was decided that feck was that attribute possessed in abundance by the Coyote but utterly absent in the Roadrunner.
Regarding Martha's polkadodge, I once read an explanation of why that happens so rarely ... at least the double or triple corrections she's referring to. Some behavioral scientist actually studied that phenomenon, watching eye motion and changes in gait. He determined that, when approaching, corrections or directional commitments are made (on average) some 10-20 feet ahead of time. Claimed it was a "projection of personal space." Interesting.
That unpaired negative thing is also interesting. Reminded me of an old Nick Danger, 3rd Eye episode (audio) by Firesign Theater, ca. 1970. Nick was described by the narrator as "pursuing ruthlessly." Cut to Nick, who is heard repeating "Where's Ruth? Where's Ruth?"
If you can have feck, I guess you can also have ruth. Coyote apparently has both.
Heimhenge said:
That unpaired negative thing is also interesting. Reminded me of an old Nick Danger, 3rd Eye episode (audio) by Firesign Theater, ca. 1970. Nick was described by the narrator as "pursuing ruthlessly." Cut to Nick, who is heard repeating "Where's Ruth? Where's Ruth?"
Reminds me of a poem from an old book I had as a child:
Ruth rode on my motorbike,
Directly back of me.
I hit a bump at 55-
and rode on ruthlessly.
Knowing me, I've probably posting this before. Jack Winter wrote a wonderful bit using the positive form of words lacking negatives:
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/humor/how-i-met-my-wife.html
When it happens to me (neither person veering away and you end up nearly colliding), I smile mirthlessly then mutter under my breath, "Dang Squirrel" because it reminds me of how squirrels zig and zag and stop right in the middle of the road before turning back at the last second before you swerve to miss them (or not). I basically keep walking now and make the other person move (and apologize)--why shouldn't I have the right of way? I know where I'm going.