Malcolm Gladwell

Yeah.

Part of it is, well, I think there's other layers. But one is that as a linguist, as someone who pays as much attention to language as you do, you're better at it. By which I mean that just the example you just gave, on parsing the difference between cowardly and hopeless. That someone who was not as attuned to the nuances of language might have said cowardly.

Part of it is, well, I think there's other layers. But one is that as a linguist, as someone who pays as much attention to language as you do, you're better at it. By which I mean that just the example you just gave, on parsing the difference between cowardly and hopeless. That someone who was not as attuned to the nuances of language might have said cowardly.

There's quite a dramatic difference in the way that would be perceived and read. But you are professionally alert to those nuances. And that permits you a great deal more freedom. I think that most people dramatically underestimate how important word choices and how acutely sensitive we are to the words that are used, particularly if they're directed at us.

There's quite a dramatic difference in the way that would be perceived and read. But you are professionally alert to those nuances. And that permits you a great deal more freedom. I think that most people dramatically underestimate how important word choices and how acutely sensitive we are to the words that are used, particularly if they're directed at us.

I want to talk about my favorite chapter in the book. What's the favorite? It's the chapter about you.

I want to talk about my favorite chapter in the book. What's the favorite? It's the chapter about you.

It is. So just to explain briefly to everyone the structure of the book.

It is. So just to explain briefly to everyone the structure of the book.

But you, so tell us the problem with you. You is a problem.

But you, so tell us the problem with you. You is a problem.

Thou is the one we miss.

Thou is the one we miss.

So let's convince us about why we need to have thou back.

So let's convince us about why we need to have thou back.

So what's your preference here? There's two parallel strands of argument here, and I want to figure out which side you're on. So you originally is the plural. Thou is the singular. Singular. What has happened is that you has come to encompass both. But we've developed these colloquial forms, y'all, et cetera, to take up the plural position, and we've moved you to the singular.

So what's your preference here? There's two parallel strands of argument here, and I want to figure out which side you're on. So you originally is the plural. Thou is the singular. Singular. What has happened is that you has come to encompass both. But we've developed these colloquial forms, y'all, et cetera, to take up the plural position, and we've moved you to the singular.

Do you think you should remain the singular, or should you be moved back into the plural position?

Do you think you should remain the singular, or should you be moved back into the plural position?

Why did, I was thinking of, you know, so if someone wrote the hymn How Great Thou Art Today, it would be how great you are. How great you are. Then sings my soul. It's not as good. My savior God to thee. How great you are. How great you are. It doesn't work.