Is a Paraprosdokian the same thing as a Garden Path sentence?

Thread starter dratsab
Start date Oct 17, 2010
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garden Path

In summary, Paraprosdokians are figures of speech that surprise or shock the reader with a unexpected twist in the latter part of a sentence. Garden Path sentences, on the other hand, are grammatically correct sentences that initially lead the reader to one interpretation, but then force them to reinterpret it in a different way. While both play on the unexpected nature of language, Paraprosdokians focus on the latter part of a sentence while Garden Path sentences focus on the structure of the sentence itself. It is possible for a sentence to be both a Paraprosdokian and a Garden Path sentence, but not all sentences fall under both categories. These types of sentences can cause confusion and require the reader or listener to take

Oct 17, 2010

dratsab

Was curious, they seem to be the same, but if not, what is the difference?

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Oct 17, 2010

Newai

Hmm. Maybe this will help.

http://blog.ivman.com/have-you-ever-heard-of-paraprosdokians/

Oct 17, 2010

dratsab

Very nice, thanks a lots.

1. What is a Paraprosdokian?

A Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reinterpret the first part.

2. What is a Garden Path sentence?

A Garden Path sentence is a sentence that is grammatically correct but is structured in a way that initially leads the reader to one interpretation, but then forces them to re-interpret the sentence in a different way.

3. Are Paraprosdokians and Garden Path sentences the same thing?

No, they are not the same thing. While both play on the unexpected or surprising nature of language, Paraprosdokians focus on the latter part of a sentence while Garden Path sentences focus on the structure of the sentence itself.

4. Can a sentence be both a Paraprosdokian and a Garden Path sentence?

Yes, it is possible for a sentence to fall under both categories. However, not all Paraprosdokians are Garden Path sentences and vice versa.

5. How do Paraprosdokians and Garden Path sentences affect language comprehension?

Both Paraprosdokians and Garden Path sentences can cause confusion and require the reader or listener to take a second look at the sentence in order to fully understand its meaning. They can also add humor and playfulness to language.