How Punctuation Changes Meaning: What This Classroom Exercise Reveals About Gender Perceptions

An English professor wrote the words: "A woman without her man is nothing" on the chalkboard and asked his students to punctuate it correctly. All of the males in the class wrote: "A woman, without her man, is nothing." All the females in the class wrote: "A woman: without her, man is nothing." Punctuation is powerful.

I have similar things like this.

"Save him not hang him" (it is a telegram received by a jailer who is in the process of executing a capital punishment). This is basically a survival and death matter. If the jailer reads this as "Save him not, hang him", then it is gone. On the other hand, if he reads like this, "Save him, not hang him", it means he has to stop the execution process. It is about someone's life, do you agree?

Similarly, "Chhodo math maro" (in Hindi) If someone understands like this, "chhodo math, maro", (meaning don't leave him, beat him); on the other hand if this is read like this, "Chhodo, math maro" (Leave him, do not beat him), both make a lot of difference, right?

Thanks. Balaji

In school, I was taught that punctuation can either hang him or not let him go. Our English teacher explained the importance of punctuation marks. Later, in school itself, I realized that English can be dangerous if not used properly.

First of all to the Super moderator: Good you are following and taking action on the spot... "Auraath....Abaadi....barbaadhi bhi" ~ Translates as "Abundance can happen through a Woman and she could as well be the reason for utter destruction/downfall..." Am I ok with my Translation SK Hadirji?.... : )

See, a woman has come out to help too... Hahaha

Have a nice day all out there... SS

By the way, deadsoul, your tagline scares me, I say.... I am not sure if I am dead or alive going by "Inception"... however, I would not get into an argument with you.... Hahaha just jesting, okay. "Feel Alive, because Life is Beautiful as long as it lasts. And death can be the step to Mahasamadhi if one is aware of it...."

Here is another one: A school principal commented that punctuations were unnecessary. Responding to this, the next day, the teacher wrote the following on the staff room board "The Principal said the teacher is a fool." When the Principal saw this, he smiled until the teacher went on to put in a couple of punctuation marks after which the statement read "The Principal, said the teacher, is a fool."

It means "WOMAN not only can give happiness but can lead a MAN towards SUCCESS PATH, PLAY MULTIPLE ROLES which a MAN can't do. At the same time, WOMAN can even be the cause for destruction."

We should never underestimate a WOMAN because ALMIGHTY itself has blessed her with MULTIPLE SKILLS, which a man can't even dream about.

[QUOTE=skhadir;1512382]I agree with you, Bhavani. All men should know that:

"AURATH SE AABAADI BHI HAI AUR AURATH SE HEE BARBAADI BHI HAI."

Hope you got my point.

With profound regards

mmmhh...so sorry I couldn't understand the real meaning of it... :-/ but could realize that it is something valuable about women...

Regards,
Bhavani S