Hi, Ardith Hinton! -> Alexander Koryagin
I read your message from 16.01.2022 00:11

 AH>> If one has a dictionary which explains the etymology, i.e. from
 AH>> whom we borrowed the word, it's easier to understand spellings
 AH>> like "yacht" & "caught".

 AH> Perhaps I should have typed "knot", rather than "yacht"... but then
 AH> you might learn more, if you look up "yacht" for yourself, than you
 AH> would have learned if you are fairly content with what you already
 AH> know about "knot". My point is that native speakers tend to
 AH> struggle with these issues as well... so what you are seeing in
 AH> Dallas's message is our version of gallows humour.

I also didn't say my words seriously.

 ak>> It is also a big question what percent of all English words is
 ak>> known to all the people speaking English.

 AH> No argument AFAIC. When last I heard there were +/- half a million
 AH> words in the English language, not counting technical terms... but
 AH> the average social conversation included only about 300 of them. I
 AH> don't talk down to the folks I meet in this echo, yet they seem to
 AH> keep coming back for more....: - Q

It seems to me that I can't imagine how on earth a person can remember one million words. And, besides, we should note that today 90% of people don't read any books. ;)

 ak>> So, when speaking English, maybe it is a good idea to simplify
 ak>> phrases and don't use old fashion words.

 AH> In some cases, yes. In others it's sufficient if you get the
 AH> drift... while people like Anton & me will have a wonderful time
 AH> with material like "lest thy clownish bearing discover thee". I
 AH> don't remember now what you were asking about on that particular
 AH> occasion... but I immediately added IVANHOE to my "must-read" list
 AH> & was not disappointed. It's a good adventure story which like most
 AH> classics can be appreciated on a variety of levels, and as a
 AH> teacher I'm delighted when others can admit they have no idea what
 AH> I'm babbling about. In my experience very few junior high school

I believe that now in the USA there should be a simplified version of IVANHOE, as it is for the Bible. ;)

 AH> students do that... and one of my former students told me I was the
 AH> only teacher he'd ever met who said "I don't Inknow". If you tell
 AH> me you don't understand I can slow down or try rewording what I
 AH> said or get back to you when I've examined the matter further.

What does it mean "I don't Inknow"?

Bye, Ardith!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2022

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