Paul Gilmartin wrote: > The way people casually abbreviate dates is subjective and context-sensitive:
No kidding. How about just this: "When is the party?" "Next Saturday." Now...today is Tuesday. Is "Next Saturday" in four days, or 11? If today were Friday, I'm sure you wouldn't think "Next Saturday" meant tomorrow, and wouldn't feel the need to clarify. If today were Sunday, I'm pretty sure you *would* think it meant "in six days". Or at least would ask which I meant. Where is the boundary? Is this just an English vagueness, or is it universal? My father would have known (PhD in linguistics, fluent in seven languages), but he isn't around to ask, alas. -- ...phsiii ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
