Why quantum mechanics?

[Dan Goncharoff]

Isn't a question like "Why turbulence?" natural in speech and a possible
source for the "Because X" pattern?

DanG


On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 7:48 AM, Dave Wilton <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dave Wilton <dave at WILTON.NET>
> Subject:      Why quantum mechanics?
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> Today's xkcd comic contains a variant of the WOTY use of "because," a use
> of
> "why," as in "Why quantum mechanics?" and "Why turbulence?"
>
> http://xkcd.com/1315/
>
> (I haven't looked into whether Horace Lamb actually said anything of this
> nature.)
>
> --Dave Wilton
>    Doctoral Candidate, Department of English
>    University of Toronto
>    dave.wilton at utoronto.ca / dave at wilton.net
>
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