The Talmud has no punctuation marks. There are no commas, periods, question marks and so on. Only with experience does the student learn how to read the Talmud properly.

The placement of a comma or a question mark can change the meaning of a Talmudic passage. Depending on how the Talmud is read, different interpretations can be made or questions raised. In fact, there are many of these differences amongst the commentaries. Thus, one piece of Talmud can be understood in a variety of ways, none of which is more correct than the other. In Jewish thought, this is referred to by the concept of “both these and these are the way of G-D”.

Talmud debate usually follows a question-an-answer, explanation-elucidation structure; this is known as shakla vitara. This structure allows a student to recall large sections of the Talmud from memory.

I was once challenged to memorize 28 pages of the Talmud tractate Peshachim using this method (the reward being a case of beer). I have friends who have completed much more.

Drawing of shakla vitara Talmud Brachos 2A