Editing 1771: It Was I
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | We see {{w|Palpatine}}, {{w|Luke Skywalker}} (drawn as an xkcd character) and {{w|Darth Vader}}. The comic starts with a scene from ''{{w|Return of the Jedi}}'', but the tension deflates when the conversation suddenly veers into one of proper grammar. | |
− | Initially Palpatine begins saying "It was I who..." | + | Initially Palpatine begins saying "It was I who..." In traditional {{w|linguistic prescriptivism|prescriptive}} English grammar, the verb "to be" is a {{w|Indo-European copula|copula}}. This means that in a sentence of the form "A is B", both A ''and'' B are treated like the subject of the sentence. In most Indo-European languages, subjects use the {{w|nominative case}} - although the case system in English has almost died out, ''I'', ''he'', ''she'' and ''we'' are fossils of nominative case pronouns - and the object of the sentence uses the {{w|accusative case}} - ''me'', ''him'', ''her'', ''us''. |
− | + | This rule is still strong in languages like German, where speakers still use cases and therefore are familiar with how they work. However, English's case system is so weak that most people only know the rule "''I'' goes before a verb, ''me'' comes after a verb or preposition". This gives the correct result in sentences like "It saw me". By extension, speakers therefore often say "It was me" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNgxyL5zEAk here's a famous example from Vince McMahon]) - logical, but not true to the traditional rules. Luke thinks that there's nothing wrong with this modern sense, as he is a {{w|linguistic descriptivism|descriptivist}}. | |
− | Darth Vader | + | However, as Darth Vader points out, "It was I" is not incorrect, and it is a {{w|set phrase}} with a good archaic ring to it suitable for a dramatic revelation from an Emperor. Vader and the Emperor using English archaisms has canon basis in ''Star Wars'', with Vader asking "What is thy bidding, my master?" in ''The Empire Strikes Back''. |
− | Palpatine finally decides to take a third option, and uses "[ | + | Palpatine finally decides to take a third option, and uses "[http://www.papermag.com/it-me-you-and-everyone-we-know-a-look-at-the-webs-most-ambiguous-meme-1427655235.html it me]", a popular meme on Twitter in 2016. Darth Vader, out of embarrassment, begs him not to talk like that again. |
− | One of [[Randall]]'s themes is that grammar pedants apply rules to correct other people long after those rules have fallen out of actual usage. Luke is here being an anti-grammar-pedant, asking the Emperor to disapply the rule. See [[890: Etymology]] for another instance of Luke failing to notice semantics | + | One of [[Randall]]'s themes is that grammar pedants apply rules to correct other people long after those rules have fallen out of actual usage. Luke is here being an anti-grammar-pedant, asking the Emperor to disapply the rule. The joke is that he is concentrating on the linguistics of what he is saying, rather than the actual significance of it. See [[890: Etymology]] for another instance of Luke failing to notice semantics. |
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The title text runs with the joke in the final panel, applying the same meme to Darth Vader's iconic quote "No, I am your father." It could be said that such a phrasing robs the moment of all gravitas, but then again, Yoda managed to coin a phrase like "Do or do not; there is no try", and still be taken seriously. | The title text runs with the joke in the final panel, applying the same meme to Darth Vader's iconic quote "No, I am your father." It could be said that such a phrasing robs the moment of all gravitas, but then again, Yoda managed to coin a phrase like "Do or do not; there is no try", and still be taken seriously. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete transcript}} | |
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− | + | [Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader in throne room] | |
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+ | Emperor: It was I who allowed the alliance to know the location of the shield generator. | ||
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+ | Luke: You mean "It was ''me''." You're following an archaic grammar rule. | ||
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+ | Emperor: It was ''me'' who allowed the- | ||
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+ | Vader: No, my master, an archaic tone is appropriate here. The sentence sounds- | ||
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+ | Emperor: It was ''I'' who allowed- | ||
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+ | Luke: Come on, the accusative case is fine. Nominative pronouns are- | ||
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+ | Emperor: '''''It me''''' | ||
− | + | Emperor: '''''I allowed it''''' | |
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− | : | + | Vader: My master, |
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− | + | Vader: Please never say that again. | |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Star Wars]] | [[Category:Star Wars]] | ||
[[Category:Language]] | [[Category:Language]] | ||
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