How “unless” and “until” affect the structure and meaning of a complex sentence
Here is an excerpt from a book I’m reading:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced
in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our
perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals
are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a
pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of
that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions
and the abilities to act.
Can anybody help me to interpret these lines, as the usage of unless and until seems quite complex?
meaning syntactic-analysis grammatical-structure till-until unless
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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|
show 2 more comments
Here is an excerpt from a book I’m reading:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced
in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our
perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals
are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a
pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of
that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions
and the abilities to act.
Can anybody help me to interpret these lines, as the usage of unless and until seems quite complex?
meaning syntactic-analysis grammatical-structure till-until unless
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
1
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
Here is an excerpt from a book I’m reading:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced
in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our
perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals
are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a
pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of
that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions
and the abilities to act.
Can anybody help me to interpret these lines, as the usage of unless and until seems quite complex?
meaning syntactic-analysis grammatical-structure till-until unless
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Here is an excerpt from a book I’m reading:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced
in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our
perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals
are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a
pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of
that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions
and the abilities to act.
Can anybody help me to interpret these lines, as the usage of unless and until seems quite complex?
meaning syntactic-analysis grammatical-structure till-until unless
meaning syntactic-analysis grammatical-structure till-until unless
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
edited yesterday
tchrist♦
109k30295472
109k30295472
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
asked yesterday
Sudhir SharmaSudhir Sharma
11
11
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
1
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
1
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago
1
1
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
1
1
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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Original text:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions and the abilities to act.
My interpretation:
What drugs in fact [normally] do is reduce our perception of both ... :
(1) what [theoretically] can be accomplished; and also
(2) what we as individuals are [actually] able to accomplish
until [our perception of item (1) above & our perception of item (2) above] are in balance [with one another].
[That can seem to be] a pleasant state of affairs, ...
but [in reality] it is only a misleading simulation of [the] enjoyment that comes from [what seems like]
(1) increasing opportunities for actions, and
(2) the abilities to act.
[Unless ...] The only occasions when drugs do not have that effect is when they are "consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts" [such as the rituals] practiced in many traditional societies.
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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Original text:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions and the abilities to act.
My interpretation:
What drugs in fact [normally] do is reduce our perception of both ... :
(1) what [theoretically] can be accomplished; and also
(2) what we as individuals are [actually] able to accomplish
until [our perception of item (1) above & our perception of item (2) above] are in balance [with one another].
[That can seem to be] a pleasant state of affairs, ...
but [in reality] it is only a misleading simulation of [the] enjoyment that comes from [what seems like]
(1) increasing opportunities for actions, and
(2) the abilities to act.
[Unless ...] The only occasions when drugs do not have that effect is when they are "consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts" [such as the rituals] practiced in many traditional societies.
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Original text:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions and the abilities to act.
My interpretation:
What drugs in fact [normally] do is reduce our perception of both ... :
(1) what [theoretically] can be accomplished; and also
(2) what we as individuals are [actually] able to accomplish
until [our perception of item (1) above & our perception of item (2) above] are in balance [with one another].
[That can seem to be] a pleasant state of affairs, ...
but [in reality] it is only a misleading simulation of [the] enjoyment that comes from [what seems like]
(1) increasing opportunities for actions, and
(2) the abilities to act.
[Unless ...] The only occasions when drugs do not have that effect is when they are "consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts" [such as the rituals] practiced in many traditional societies.
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Original text:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions and the abilities to act.
My interpretation:
What drugs in fact [normally] do is reduce our perception of both ... :
(1) what [theoretically] can be accomplished; and also
(2) what we as individuals are [actually] able to accomplish
until [our perception of item (1) above & our perception of item (2) above] are in balance [with one another].
[That can seem to be] a pleasant state of affairs, ...
but [in reality] it is only a misleading simulation of [the] enjoyment that comes from [what seems like]
(1) increasing opportunities for actions, and
(2) the abilities to act.
[Unless ...] The only occasions when drugs do not have that effect is when they are "consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts" [such as the rituals] practiced in many traditional societies.
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
Original text:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our perception of both what can be accomplished and what we as individuals are able to accomplish, until the two are in balance. This is a pleasant state of affairs, but it is only a misleading simulation of that enjoyment that comes from increasing opportunities for actions and the abilities to act.
My interpretation:
What drugs in fact [normally] do is reduce our perception of both ... :
(1) what [theoretically] can be accomplished; and also
(2) what we as individuals are [actually] able to accomplish
until [our perception of item (1) above & our perception of item (2) above] are in balance [with one another].
[That can seem to be] a pleasant state of affairs, ...
but [in reality] it is only a misleading simulation of [the] enjoyment that comes from [what seems like]
(1) increasing opportunities for actions, and
(2) the abilities to act.
[Unless ...] The only occasions when drugs do not have that effect is when they are "consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts" [such as the rituals] practiced in many traditional societies.
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
edited 3 hours ago
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
answered yesterday
TrevorDTrevorD
10.7k22457
10.7k22457
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Sir, until does seem ambiguous here. Until 1 and 2 balance each other out is not clear. Please help to clear this.
– Sudhir Sharma
14 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
Does until mean that both the perceptions are reduced till both are in balance.
– Sudhir Sharma
11 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
I've made some revisions to my answer - does that help?
– TrevorD
3 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
It seems like the author is implying that the two reduced perceptions being in balance is what leads to "a pleasant state of affairs" in the next sentence.
– AlannaRose
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sudhir Sharma is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
The entire passage is overly complex. I don't think the problem has anything to do with either unless or until. Does the following make sense? Unless you are told otherwise, keep exercising until you are tired. If it does, then you know what those words mean. Your problem isn't with them, but with parsing everything else.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
1
Have you looked up "unless" and "until" in a dictionary?
– Hot Licks
yesterday
(But I agree that the paragraph is gobbledygook. I suspect it was written to intentionally obfuscate it's claims.)
– Hot Licks
yesterday
What drugs do (except when consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts) is to reduce both 1.) our perception of what can be accomplished and 2.) our perception of what we as individuals are able to accomplish. Drugs reduce 1.) and 2.) until 1.) and 2.) are in balance. This is a state which people find pleasant, but it is only a simulation of the real enjoyment that comes from having the opportunity and ability to actually do something.
– Shoe
13 hours ago
@Shoe What does until mean here sir? Does it mean that the perception is reduced till 1.) and 2.) are in balance?
– Sudhir Sharma
12 hours ago