The Sound of One Hand Clapping

Actually, Terry Pratchett had another explanation for the sound of one hand clapping: CL. The other hand makes the AP.

On a related note, 'Mu' is an interesting word, actually meaning "Your question cannot be answered with a 'Yes' or 'No'. A typical example of such a question is "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" (unless, of course, you actually happen to beat your wife).

Deep questions - (taken from the book Sponging)
What is the sound of one hand clapping?

What is the sound of one-thousand hands clapping? And don't you wish you knew?


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"On the edge of sleep, I awoke to a sun so bright..."

A thousand? Being deaf, I suppose that even I could guess what that would sound like. The sound of any given group of sounds is very close to 'AUM'.
Stand outside a big city and listen.

As for the sound of 1 hand clapping? The answer is you shake the hand of the person asking the question. duh duh...:-)

[Sotaku Meikou]

The sound of two hands clapping is both hand working together. the sound of two hands...is Violence.
A bit if wisdom from my dear ol' dad, Zenmaster Werebear.

[Arnold Winkelried]

Cecil's column can be found on-line at this link:
What is the sound of one hand clapping? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_049.html)

The column can also be found on pages 49-50 of Cecil Adams' book «The Straight Dope (http://www.straightdope.com/otheroutlets/books.html)».

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