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time flies



In a message dated 10/17/2005 5:27:19 PM Central Standard Time, sts@hidden.email writes:


Imagine an english writing that reads "time flies like an arrow". (This sentence is an authentic example as far as I know.) A computer might misread it "flies of time love a specific arrow". So how can we say that:

A computer reads the english sentence (i. e.) "time flies like an arrow" (for) "flies of time love a specific arrow".

The interpretation "flies of time love a specific arrow" must be linked to the verb, as it's the reading that causes this interpretation. We already deal with results, if we have a prefix meaning "mis-" (we have it, haven't we?). If that "mis" means "mistake", and we specify "mistake" as "flies of time love a specific arrow", we get

A computer reads the english sentence (i. e.) "time flies like an arrow" (for) mistake (i. e.) "flies of time love a specific arrow".
A computer reads the english sentence (i. e.) "time flies like an arrow" mis.
A computer misreads the english sentence (i. e.) "time flies like an arrow".


"Time flies like an arrow" is one of the classics of ambiguity.  I've seen lists of numerous interpretations, some pretty far-fetched.

stevo