I probably need to re-read... don't remember the constructed horses :(
кажди охотник желает знать где сидит фазан
I've actually been wondering lately whether that mnemonic is universal or some kind of regional thing. I definitely knew it, growing up, but not too long ago I recited it for my son's preschool teacher, who is Russian but from somewhere other than Kiev (Moscow, I think? Or possibly even elsewhere in Ukraine... like Donetsk or something) and she had never heard it, despite being an elementary school teacher over there. So, I was surprised...
I was thrilled to discover the English equivalent, actually, via Artemis Fowl, of all random things: "Richard of York gave battle in vain" -- which I guess is the *English* English mnemonic -- 'cos I never could see how "Roy G. Biv" worked as a mnemonic, not being an actual meaning to help you remember things...
(I'm actually quite fascinated by how different mnemonics get adapted in different places. Like, do you know the "knuckle method" for remembering which months have 31 days and which don't? I learned it as a kid (in Russia), but nobody around here seemed to know it -- except my Italian teacher, who grew up in (naturally) Italy, and had been taught the same mnemonic. Why this mnemonic would not be used over the much cruder and more cumbersome, in my opinion, "Thirty days hath September" I have no idea...)
кажди охотник желает знать где сидит фазан
I've actually been wondering lately whether that mnemonic is universal or some kind of regional thing. I definitely knew it, growing up, but not too long ago I recited it for my son's preschool teacher, who is Russian but from somewhere other than Kiev (Moscow, I think? Or possibly even elsewhere in Ukraine... like Donetsk or something) and she had never heard it, despite being an elementary school teacher over there. So, I was surprised...
I was thrilled to discover the English equivalent, actually, via Artemis Fowl, of all random things: "Richard of York gave battle in vain" -- which I guess is the *English* English mnemonic -- 'cos I never could see how "Roy G. Biv" worked as a mnemonic, not being an actual meaning to help you remember things...
(I'm actually quite fascinated by how different mnemonics get adapted in different places. Like, do you know the "knuckle method" for remembering which months have 31 days and which don't? I learned it as a kid (in Russia), but nobody around here seemed to know it -- except my Italian teacher, who grew up in (naturally) Italy, and had been taught the same mnemonic. Why this mnemonic would not be used over the much cruder and more cumbersome, in my opinion, "Thirty days hath September" I have no idea...)
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