Language is under every obligation to make sense. That is the entire purpose of it’s existence. It is, however under no obligation to make sense to you.
Finding a loophole or an inconsistency about grammar doesn’t prove that language shouldn’t make sense to at least two people.
I mean did anyone ever actually say that to communicate that actual meaning? If not then its not relevant at all.
But even if someone did say that with the intent to communicate (something about bison?), language or grammar, especially as it emerges from fallible human communication is allowed to make mistakes.
That’s why we have words like “misunderstanding”. It’s also why meanings and patterns of use LITERALLY change over time.
But whether misunderstood or unintelligible or encrypted it’s fundamental purpose is still to communicate.
Language is under no obligation to make sense.
Language is under every obligation to make sense. That is the entire purpose of it’s existence. It is, however under no obligation to make sense to you.
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
Now be honest, does that make any sense, at all? It is grammatically correct.
I definitely had to look it up, as it’s difficult and a bit confusing to parse and makes use of some rather dated slang, but yes it does make sense.
It means that buffalo from the city called Buffalo, who bully other buffalo from Buffalo are in turn bullied by buffalo from Buffalo.
Finding a loophole or an inconsistency about grammar doesn’t prove that language shouldn’t make sense to at least two people. I mean did anyone ever actually say that to communicate that actual meaning? If not then its not relevant at all.
But even if someone did say that with the intent to communicate (something about bison?), language or grammar, especially as it emerges from fallible human communication is allowed to make mistakes.
That’s why we have words like “misunderstanding”. It’s also why meanings and patterns of use LITERALLY change over time. But whether misunderstood or unintelligible or encrypted it’s fundamental purpose is still to communicate.
Those two people just need to agree on one way to express a thought, whether that way “makes sense” or not.