James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher

whitebear / 英語 / 0 Comments

日本語には「すもももももももものうち」「うらにわにはにわにわにはにわにわとりがいる」などの言葉遊びがあります。

漢字で書けば、それぞれ「スモモも桃も桃のうち」「裏庭には二羽、庭には二羽鶏がいる」。

これらはわかち書きをしないという日本語の特性を利用した言葉遊びですが、単語と単語の間にスペースを置く英語にも次のような言葉遊びがあります。

James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher.

さて、この文はどのような意味になるでしょう？

？？

？？

ちょっと考えてみたいという人には考えていただき、ここでは種明かしをしたいと思います。

James, while John had had “had”, had had “had had”; “had had” had had a better effect on the teacher.

Wikipedia「James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher」より

見えてきたでしょうか？

部分に分解しながら、意味を取っていきましょう。

つまり何かの文章表現において、過去形（had）を使ったジョンと過去完了形（had had）を使ったジェームズを比較し、過去完了形（had had）を使ったジェームズの方が先生の評価は高かったという内容を伝えているんですね。

なるほど！という英語の言葉遊びでした。