Dissociated press
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Dissociated press is an algorithm for generating text based on another text. It is intended for transforming any text into potentially humorous garbage. The name is a play on "Associated Press".
The most well known implementation of this algorithm is as a command available in Emacs, M-x dissociated-press (implemented in Emacs Lisp file dissociate.el).
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[edit] The algorithm
The algorithm starts by printing any N consecutive words (or letters) in the text. Then at every step it searches for any random occurrence in the original text of the last N words (or letters) already printed and then prints the next word or letter.
[edit] Example
Here is a short example of word-based Dissociated Press applied to the Jargon File[1]:
- wart: n. A small, crocky feature that sticks out of an array (C has no checks for this). This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the phrase is bent so as to be not worth paying attention to the medium in question.
Here is a short example of letter-based Dissociated Press applied to the same source:
- window sysIWYG: n. A bit was named aften /bee´t@/ prefer to use the other guy's re, especially in every cast a chuckle on neithout getting into useful informash speech makes removing a featuring a move or usage actual abstractionsidered interj. Indeed spectace logic or problem!
A hackish idle pastime is to apply letter-based Dissociated Press to a random body of text in hopes of finding an interesting new word. (In the preceding example, ‘window sysIWYG’ and ‘informash’ show some promise.) Iterated applications of Dissociated Press usually yield better results. Similar techniques called travesty generators have been employed with considerable satirical effect to the utterances of Usenet flamers.
[edit] History
The dissociated press algorithm is described in HAKMEM (1972) Item #176. The name "dissociated press" is first known to have been associated with the Emacs implementation.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
This article is based in part on the Jargon File, which is in the public domain.
