Yogi-isms
Enjoyed reading about the late Yogi Berra in Sunday’s Dispatch. “Convoluted English’ is the perfect label for his mode of expression. One of my favorite Yogi-isms is, “It is really hard to make predictions, especially about the future.” As I understand it, he never really meant for these things to be funny; it was just his unique way of expressing himself. I don’t want to over-analyze it, but I think the Yogi-isms are characterized by the omission of qualifiers. “It is really hard to make predictions, especially about the [distant] future.” “Nobody [in my circle of friends] goes to that restaurant anymore; it’s too crowded.”
Yogi Berra’s house was at the far end of a loop which was entered at a fork. Hence, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it. [Either will do]. Maybe it helps to realize that catcher-to-pitcher language has to be brief in order to be conveyed by a quick hand signal.
Gill Harris
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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