I remember linguists being up in arms about “donkey sentences” a few years back, where a farmer beat his donkey, but man, this is a lot. It’s not like it’s a grammar of Akkadian, either, where you expect examples like “Sargon subdued the city and departed” or whatever

“The father beat the son and he left” (this example from Yidiny is notable because it’s ambiguous between whether the father or the son left).

“The man came here and hit the woman” (this does not allow a reading in which someone else hit the woman)

Etc.

May his memory be for a blessing

His memory will live on in his works, yes, but more importantly in all of the scholars and all of the people he took the time to listen to, to treat with respect and dignity, and to cultivate. Even when they disagreed with him and especially when they proved him wrong.

I am so deeply honored that he saw something in me and chose to cultivate me as his last grad student, when he could have just retired and walked away from everything.

Anyway, they were delicious.

I’m curious how many people thought all gingerbread men were biologically male, or thought that there are gingerbread women. It’s the bread equivalent of a stick figure.

And of course, “girl” used to mean a child of any age. These category shifts are super interesting