Rosten cites the following wonderful array of insult and innuendo, adapted into English from Yiddish. The problem is whether to attend a concert being given by a niece. The same sentence is put through the following paces, depending on emphasis:
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--meaning:, "After what she did to me?"
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--meaning: "What, you're giving me a lesson in ethics?"
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--meaning: I wouldn't go even if she were giving out free passes!
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--meaning: I'm having enough trouble deciding whether it's worth one.
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--She should be giving out free passes, or the hall will be empty.
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--Did she buy tickets to our daughter's recital?
- I should buy two tickets for her concert?--You mean, they call what she does a "concert"?
