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submitted 8 months ago by Worx@lemmynsfw.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

Let's imagine it's currently Wednesday the 1st. Does "next Saturday" mean Saturday the 4th (the next Saturday to occur) or Saturday the 11th (the Saturday of next week)?

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[-] executivechimp@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 8 months ago

It goes like this

"Next Saturday"

"You mean this Saturday? Or next Saturday?"

"Next Saturday"

"Okay"

Because English is not an efficient tool for communication.

[-] Grabthar@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Absolutely this. Because it is never clear which is meant without being qualified, you have to do this every time unless you specify. I would just say Saturday the 4th to save the exchange.

[-] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Not efficent but certainly effective.

[-] executivechimp@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 8 months ago
[-] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 0 points 8 months ago

Thinking about it. Couldn't it be argued that its actually quite efficient?

You have lots of words that have multiple meanings and the difference is i the context, the tone, and the words used in conjunction with them. For example.

Fuck.

It can be an insult, a proposition, an exclaimation of pain, a state of repair etc. And all these things and the rest can be expressed with that one word.

Theres more just like it but just as an example.

[-] executivechimp@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 8 months ago

Why say many words when few work? Or whatever the Office quote is.

It would be efficient if (when) the meaning was adequately conveyed. If the usage necessitates a back-and-forth then that is inefficient.

[-] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I dont understand. My example is perfectly described by your point. One word that has many uses where context implies meaning.

this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024
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