Thread: Ten Things Americans Don't Know About America

Originally Posted by Paul G.

That's amazing. Eric, don't you know that I'm not a native English speaker? Did it surprise you? In Russian we have different words for that. "Intellectual" includes both terms: static knowledge and abilities.
As you couldn't guess, it explains everything. Also your ability to operate with that.

Numbers of Russians would disagree with you, Paul. They call static knowledge "фактические знания", and the level of intellect "интеллект" or "уровень интеллекта", and both terms mean pretty much the same that the English ones do. Am I wrong?

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Am I wrong?

Of course, you are wrong. All depend on context. "Intellectual" means not only abilities, but rich knowledge too. In Russian you can't call "intellectual" a person, who doesn't know, for example, the history of the UK (I mean elementary facts about it) and so on. Only if you want to make fun of him. Although this person can be professional. Like a "professional plumber", for instance. Also in Russian "intellectual" often implies an "erudite person".