Itâs a funny thing with that 5-repetition rule. When I read your message I instantly remembered when I was reading âThe Art of Warâ. There was an interesting introduction, a story where a general was to prove himself capable of leading his masterâs army.
Sun Tzu, as itâs believed that was the name of the general, was given a command over a group of 180 women and told to discipline them. His master was watching.
He divided this group into 2 smaller ones and promoted two of the masterâs favorite concubines to be in charge of both.
He told them that they must obey his command and do exactly as he says. The women agreed.
Then he gave the order to perform some kind of movement and women burst into fits of laughter. The general said "If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame. "
He gave one more order âLeft turnâ and the ladies once again started laughing. Then the general said âIf words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.â He then ordered the leaders of the two companies to be beheaded. His master seeing that his favorite concubines were to be killed wanted to disregard this command but the general said that the master himself gave him the command of this army so the decision is for him to make and the concubines were killed.
Grammar according to Zhuangzi. If I tell an army officer a joke, he will laugh three times. The first time when the joke is told, the second time when the joke is explained to him, and the third time, much much later when he understands the joke. I think grammar rules are like this.