Which I don't command

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Marius Hancu - 31 Oct 2008 09:17 GMT

Hello:

Do you feel that this sentence

"There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
chemistry to repeat"

is perfectly OK?

---------
[Basteshaw, a fanatical researcher, tries to convince Augie of his
reasoning about the chemical and physiological origins of boredom.]

There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
chemistry to repeat, the kinesis of enzymes and so forth. But the upshot
of this was, that as he investigated the irritability of protoplasm he
discovered some of the secrets of life.

Augie March, by Bellow, p. 551
---------

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Lars Eighner - 31 Oct 2008 10:02 GMT

In our last episode,
<geeelk$rm8$1@aioe.org>,
the lovely and talented Marius Hancu
broadcast on alt.usage.english:

> Hello:

> Do you feel that this sentence

> "There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
> chemistry to repeat"

> is perfectly OK?

Yes. "Physical chemistry" is somewhat colorfully used here for
"intellectual capacity." Many people would spare themselves the brutal
honesty of "I'm too thick to follow what he said and therefore cannot repeat
it," and this is something of a compromise.

> ---------
> [Basteshaw, a fanatical researcher, tries to convince Augie of his
> reasoning about the chemical and physiological origins of boredom.]

> There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
> chemistry to repeat, the kinesis of enzymes and so forth. But the upshot
> of this was, that as he investigated the irritability of protoplasm he
> discovered some of the secrets of life.

> Augie March, by Bellow, p. 551
> ---------

> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

Signature

Lars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> usenet@larseighner.com
Q. What did Palin do that Obama could not do?
A. Got me to vote for Obama.

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Marius Hancu - 31 Oct 2008 10:20 GMT

> > Do you feel that this sentence
> > "There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> honesty of "I'm too thick to follow what he said and therefore cannot repeat
> it," and this is something of a compromise.

I think I understand your point, however I assume it's real physical
chemistry here, as Basteshaw tries to convince Augie using the in the
terms of that science on his progress on chemical and physiological
origins of boredom.

I was more concerned with the formulation/flow of the sentence. If
that's natural to you, fine.

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Lars Eighner - 31 Oct 2008 10:34 GMT

In our last episode,
<82fb28a8-2af3-4179-897b-1afa1954e619@d10g2000pra.googlegroups.com>,
the lovely and talented Marius Hancu
broadcast on alt.usage.english:

>> > Do you feel that this sentence
>> > "There ensued certain descriptions which I don't command the physical
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>> honesty of "I'm too thick to follow what he said and therefore cannot repeat
>> it," and this is something of a compromise.

> I think I understand your point, however I assume it's real physical
> chemistry here, as Basteshaw tries to convince Augie using the in the
> terms of that science on his progress on chemical and physiological
> origins of boredom.

Oh, I believe you are right. This is still an enthymeme, the missing
premise of which is: you cannot recall what you did not understand in the
first place.

> I was more concerned with the formulation/flow of the sentence. If
> that's natural to you, fine.

It's fine.

Signature

Lars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> usenet@larseighner.com
Q. What did Palin do that Obama could not do?
A. Got me to vote for Obama.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / October 2008

Which I don't command