Academic Proverbs
Having done most of my non-fiction reading in the academic genre, I have come to appreciate its precision, but taste and color is far from this type of fare. The proverb, maxim, what have you, has quite a pith to it in light of the constant elaboration and qualification of the scholar's discourse.Here are a few examples of what common aphorisms would sound like if they were expressed in academic terms:
"Horses are usually amenable to being brought near water sources, but there is no reliable way apart from intravenous insertion to hydrate them."
"Over-rapid execution of a number of demeaning domestic duties sometimes results in their inefficient fulfillment."
"Chronologically appropriate preventative tailoring can be up to nine times as effective as traditional sartorial repair."
"The most astute ecological response to the somnolent canine encounter is to adapt to this preexisting situation."
"The spontaneous enjoyment of the humorous stimulus is often superior to any chemical treatment of physical and mental disorder."
"Disciplined, productive labor without regular recreational intermission has a repressive effect on mental acuity in both men and women between the ages of 1 and 12."
Even if you can translate these convoluted bits of conventional wisdom, I agree with you that the original ones are more effective.
posted by Lynn @ 5:22 PM
2 Comments:
This blog was particularly fun. I suppose a recognition of the disparity between genres and their temporary blending suspended within the confines of another genre not yet entirely well-defined (i.e., the blog) not resulting in the regulation and standardization of their hybridization can be humorous. ;)
And, just to join in the fun, here's one: "A superfluity of input in culinary expertise can result, albeit perhaps counterintuitively, in an undesirable heterogenous liquid-based fare."
off topic, Happy Birthday :) - Flic
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