Re: Borland, Diamondback and QC

From: Derek Davidson (derek.davidson_at_REMOVEenterpriseblue.co.uk)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: 30 Aug 2004 14:51:30 -0700

Kirk Halgren wrote:

> Did you ever see the Benny Hill skit comparing the two renditions of
> the phrase, "What is this thing called love?" -the first was played
> straight, overacted in the fashion of Master Thespian (Jon Lovitz'
> character from Saturday Night Live), and the second was delivered in
> a high pitched female voice (Cockney accent): "What's this thing
> called, luv?"

I'd say that's probably a poor example. What separates the two
sentences you presented is a comma - not personality, accent or
intonation.

A better example may have been the case of Derek Bentley, who uttered
the infamous phrase 'Let him have it'. This quote from the BBC at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/28/newsid_33930
00/3393807.stm

"Bentley was convicted on the basis of police evidence. Three officers
told the court they had heard him encourage Craig to shoot by shouting
'Let him have it'.

Bentley's defence claimed he was already under arrest at the time the
shots were fired and was simply urging Craig to give up his gun. "

Bentley was found guilty and hanged at Wandsworth prison in 1953 at the
age of 19 years. I'm sure that as Bentley was dangling at the end of
the rope his last words were "I am the world's foremost authority on
the meaning of my words" but, realising that was scant comfort,
preferred instead to say "I wish I'd said 'Let him have the gun'."

For those interested in the true story of Derek Bentley (and it is a
very good one), the above link is a good starting point though Google
will reveal it's usual mass of options <g>. Bentley's grave stone
bears the inscription 'Derek Bentley "A victim of British Justice"'.
He was pardoned 46 years later in 1998. 

-- 
Derek Davidson
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