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− | {{comic | + | {{ComicHeader|1090|August 2, 2012}} |
− | | number = 1090 | |
− | | date = August 3, 2012 | |
− | | title = Formal Languages
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− | | image = formal_languages.png
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− | | titletext = [audience looks around] 'What just happened?' 'There must be some context we're missing.'
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− | }} | |
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− | ==Explanation==
| + | [[File:Formal_languages.png|[audience looks around] 'What just happened?' 'There must be some context we're missing.']] |
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− | This joke is a play on the phrase {{w|context-free grammar}}, which is a technical term used in {{w|formal languages|formal language}} theory.
| + | == Image Text == |
| + | [audience looks around] 'What just happened?' 'There must be some context we're missing.' |
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− | Cueball crashes Megan's speech on formal language theory, nonsensically shouts "Grammar!" without any context, and runs off. Because the gag is delivered in a particularly obtuse manner, the title text clears things up by having the confused audience mention "missing context", thus having them unwittingly explain the joke. | + | == Description == |
| + | [[Megan]] is standing at the podium of the 10th Annual Symposium on Formal Languages (as per the banner behind her). [[Cueball]] crashes in through a glass pane and shouts "GRAMMAR!" and dashes off. Megan remains at the podium looking perplexed. |
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− | The concept of context-free grammar is incredibly nuanced and nigh impossible to rephrase in layman's terms. Luckily, the joke only interprets the phrase "context-free grammar" literally, so no understanding of the actual subject is required.
| + | This is a reference to the phrase [[wikipedia:Context-free grammar|context-free grammar]], which is a technical term used in formal language theory. The play on words is that Cueball does not provide any context for his statement. |
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− | A context-free grammar can be described as a dictionary, translating single symbols to one or multiple symbols, who then are replaced again, until no further replacements are possible. If a string of symbols adheres to this grammar, it can be reconstructed solely by following these kind of orders.
| + | [Category:Comics featuring Cueball] |
− | | + | [Category:Comics featuring Megan] |
− | ==Transcript==
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− | :[A large banner is hanging over a podium, where a speaker (Megan) is standing behind a lectern. Cueball crashes through the left side of the panel, scattering glass.]
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− | :Banner. 10th Annual Symposium on Formal Languages
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− | :''Crash''
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− | :[Cueball stops in front of Megan spreads out his hands and shouts:]
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− | :Cueball: Grammar!
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− | :[Cueball then runs off the right side of the panel, so swiftly he leaves a cloud of dust in his wake. Megan at the podium just looks after him silently.]
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− | {{comic discussion}}
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− | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
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− | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
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− | [[Category:Logic]]
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− | [[Category:Language]]
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− | [[Category:Math]]
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− | [[Category:Public speaking]]
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− | [[Category:Puns]]
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