So, two linguists-cum-lovers tried quick
For a covert quadrilabial click
But instead of a kiss
And the paramour’s bliss
They ended up in a silly lim’rick
—Chaz Tushka
The appeal of exotic linguistics
Lies in fun with our data logistics.
We can claim “This is Urdu,”
Of the grammar of Sioux,
Boasting grasp of advanced creolistics.
—Cailín na Luimní
There once were two experts of Shona
Who thought themselves gents of Verona.
Quite pleased with their smarts
And grasp of the arts,
They dressed like two pimps from Pomona.
—Pumptilian Perniquity
I’ve just heard a polyglot moan
That she can’t trust her husband alone.
She caught him philanderin’
In quite obscene Mandarin,
Which really did lower the tone.
—Pete Bleackley
Typology
Object verb
Grossly oversimplified correlations
Greenberg is to blame
Hubschraubersprachwissenschaft
—Morris Swadesh III
Roses are red,
NLP’s automatic.
Semantic associations
Are purely psychosomatic.
—Col. O. Nihilist
