I arrive at the dentist. The receptionist looks up, “can I help you, sir?”
“I’m here for my appointment with Dr Gordon”.
“Thanks, just take a seat”.
Thirty minutes later, I come back to the same receptionist, and she looks at me with the same “can I help you?” face.
“Mm usss inish ish octa awden….oo i nee oo oo emythim?”
She replies, “Did he ask you to make another appointment?”
“Mm, ee mm mmm ay emy bow tha, o mm, u mo. U ee i se mm mmy eed awe un ata.”
“Oh, okay, well that would need an hour-long appointment, and so that probably won’t be until February”
“Mmmay, ll i us mee oo ch…ow owt mmti mm arch?”
“Sure, the 15th?”
“Mm, err, oo, mmay, ood e fi”
“See you then.”
“Oo oo”
Supposedly we only need about 200 words in any language to carry on a conversation – what are the 200 basic grunts required at the dentist’s reception desk?