Taking a lesson from fifteenth-century scholar Erasmus, I found another strategy in Image Grammar to help me practice imitation and improve my vocabulary. Erasmus would give his students a sentence. He would then ask them to produce five new sentence that communicate the same message as the first.
Image Grammar by Harry R. Noden
Chapter 6: The Artist's Special Effects
Strategy 2: Return to Erasmus
Example: Don't worry about the world coming to an end today because it's already tomorrow in Australia. (Charles Schulz)
1. Stop fretting about Armageddon occurring today because tomorrow already happened in Australia.
2. Quiet your concern of Earth ceasing existence today because Australia is already experiencing tomorrow.
3. Cease your fears of an Apocalypse on this day because Australia has already made it to tomorrow.
Example: The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us. (Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes)
1. The best evidence that evolved aliens inhabit space is that they have never attempted to communicate with Earth.
2. Solid proof advanced extraterrestrials occupy the galaxy is that they refuse to establish human relations.
3. Support for the idea that superior life forms traverse space can be found in the belief that they have not revealed themselves to the people of Earth.
Example: There 's no such thing as fun for the whole family. (Jerry Seinfeld)
1. The idea of something being enjoyable for the entire family is absurd.
2. The thought of an activity being loved by every member of a family is ridiculous.
3. A whole family finding joy in a activity is impossible to believe.
Example: When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football. (Anonymous)
1. If a person insists everything is possible, tell them to dribble a football.
2. Teachers may tell their classes nothing is impossible, but they have never dribbled a football.
3. I believed I could accomplish anything, until I attempted to dribble a football.
Example: Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees. (David Letterman)
1. Autumn is the best time of year in The City of Angels, seeing the birds turn different hues and drop from the trees.
2. October and November are my favorite months in California, observing the foul morph into different colors and cascade down from the trees.
3. Fall is my most beloved time of year in Los Angeles, staring at the birds as they transform into different colors and rain down from the trees.
Image Grammar by Harry R. Noden
Chapter 6: The Artist's Special Effects
Strategy 2: Return to Erasmus
Example: Don't worry about the world coming to an end today because it's already tomorrow in Australia. (Charles Schulz)
1. Stop fretting about Armageddon occurring today because tomorrow already happened in Australia.
2. Quiet your concern of Earth ceasing existence today because Australia is already experiencing tomorrow.
3. Cease your fears of an Apocalypse on this day because Australia has already made it to tomorrow.
Example: The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us. (Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes)
1. The best evidence that evolved aliens inhabit space is that they have never attempted to communicate with Earth.
2. Solid proof advanced extraterrestrials occupy the galaxy is that they refuse to establish human relations.
3. Support for the idea that superior life forms traverse space can be found in the belief that they have not revealed themselves to the people of Earth.
Example: There 's no such thing as fun for the whole family. (Jerry Seinfeld)
1. The idea of something being enjoyable for the entire family is absurd.
2. The thought of an activity being loved by every member of a family is ridiculous.
3. A whole family finding joy in a activity is impossible to believe.
Example: When somebody tells you nothing is impossible, ask him to dribble a football. (Anonymous)
1. If a person insists everything is possible, tell them to dribble a football.
2. Teachers may tell their classes nothing is impossible, but they have never dribbled a football.
3. I believed I could accomplish anything, until I attempted to dribble a football.
Example: Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees. (David Letterman)
1. Autumn is the best time of year in The City of Angels, seeing the birds turn different hues and drop from the trees.
2. October and November are my favorite months in California, observing the foul morph into different colors and cascade down from the trees.
3. Fall is my most beloved time of year in Los Angeles, staring at the birds as they transform into different colors and rain down from the trees.
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