How the hell will dates be pronounced around that time?
Up until the millenium dates are reffered to as "First two digit number, second two digit number", i.e Nineteen ninety-nine. Sixteen sixty-six. Thirteen eleven.
Now we've started to use a different term, we don't say "Twenty o 6" or "twenty and six", we say "two thousand (and...)" etc...
So that will work for a while. Two thousand and seventy five...
What about 2100 though?
Will it be "twenty one hundred"?
or "Two thousand one hundred"?
Bit of a mouthful to say "Two thousand, one hundred and eleven" (2111)
The first I'd assume then, because the second one is long winded and stupid. Still, I'll be dead so I don't really care - but like global warming and all that I'm just thinking about our kids here... :P
And again, randomly - Chris Jones is a world record holder! (Kind of :p)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6112714.stm
Quote
It has been...an unforgettable international celebration of the Jones clan
Iona Jones, S4C's chief executive
---- sounds a bit like Mittens!! ;)
By then we'll be using StarDates and fly around in Moonboats.
Futurama knows!
This problem doesn't exist in all languages though. I can't speak for English too much (not being a native speaker), but in German, I guess you'd say "einundzwanzig-zehn" for 2110 for example, which would equal "twentyonehundred-ten" in English.
Anyways, others will need to worry about this.
I think they'd say "100" as it's obvious about the 2000 part. Or maybe they'd make a shorter version "Two one-hundred".
What's funny is watching old films where the year 2000 has hovercrafts and teleporters etc. Or Back to the future 2 has amazing technology in the year 2015.. Hmm I doubt we'll advance this much in that time! (Although I forgive it in this film 'cos of the story needed Marty to be older and alive)
twentyonehundred oh one for 2101 :) let's ask MrColossal
twenty-one oh one. You didn't say "Nineteen hundred and eighty-five".
Marduk will strike on Earth on 2012. So we don't need to worry about the hard pronounciation of the years after 2100.
Yay! ^_^
Anyway, I think people would pronounce 21 as something like "twnty'one" or "tw'antn".
Quote from: ManicMatt on Fri 10/11/2006 22:56:04
What's funny is watching old films where the year 2000 has hovercrafts and teleporters etc. Or Back to the future 2 has amazing technology in the year 2015..
Awww... I want to see Jaws 17
I will be 127 years old in the year 2100. The future's so bright, i gotta wear shades. 8)
two one double o
two one o one
...
two one o ten
etc.
BTW: What I always wanted to know. How do you pronounce Pleurghburg?
I shall guess.
Plueerghhhh bleeuurg!
Erm..
Ple-uh-berg.
Or something.
I've always said it like it's spelt. (Kind of like Matt's second attempt.) "Pleur" (like
fleur) the "gh" is silent (because the English language is riddled with inconsistencies) "berg" (like
iceberg). "Pleurghberg", simple.
Until 2009, I'd say "Two thousand
and nine." After that, just "Two thousand (whatever)" ("Two thousand twelve", Two thousand eighty seven", etc).
"Twenty-one hundred", "Twenty-one oh one", etc, "Twenty-one ten" and so on until 2999.
Assuming we don't abandon the current numbering system for something else just as arbitary, or stop numbering years all together. And not counting normal language change.
Quote
You didn't say "Nineteen hundred and eighty-five".
But - I think - at one point you would've done, which might be why it sounds a little old fashioned and pompous now.
Now, when the space colonies declare independence and start using their own dating systems, that's when the real trouble will start.
This discussion reminds me that my generation will live through all major science fiction dates. I've already seen 1984, (Space) 1999, and 2001 (A Space Odyssey).
We're living in the future, STILL without flying cars or space-babies.
The flying car future won't just happen by itself. I suggest that we all start wearing silver jumpsuits and nothing but silver jumpsuits. That should get things going!
Quote from: Ghormak on Sun 12/11/2006 15:57:17
The flying car future won't just happen by itself. I suggest that we all start wearing silver jumpsuits and nothing but silver jumpsuits. That should get things going!
This man is onto something here!
Hrrm, I think I'd look good in silver.
On-topic: I say two thousand six, and will say twenty-one ten for 2110. 2100 will just be twenty-one hundred. In Dutch it's pretty much the same tweeduizend zes (2006), een-en-twintig honderd (2100), en een-en-twintig tien (2110).
1900 is nineteen hundred. 2100 is twenty-one hundred. What's so weird about that?
I suggest asking the jews and find out how they did, I mean, their calendar has passed that date quite some time ago. :=
Quote from: Ghormak on Sun 12/11/2006 15:57:17
The flying car future won't just happen by itself. I suggest that we all start wearing silver jumpsuits and nothing but silver jumpsuits. That should get things going!
We'd reach the flying car alot quicker if more ppl were willing to throw their hats over ythe wall for the good of mankind.
Let me explain:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFfBB2W7IA&mode=related&search=
I'm with Voh on this one.
Were I to be alive after 2100, I'd say "twentyone-whatever" just like we said "nineteen whatever"
It's only the 2000-2009 that are the uncomfortable ones for me.
Once it's 2010 it's "twenty ten" and so on ... but below ten it sounds odd to say "it's twenty OH six" so I usually just say "two thousand six" instead. I can't wait for 2010 so I can start saying "twenty ten"
I'm really excited about it!1!!!!!1!
Humm humm
/me looks around
2010 eh? Why not, should that day ever come ¬¬
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Mon 13/11/2006 18:15:57Once it's 2010 it's "twenty ten" and so on ... but below ten it sounds odd to say "it's twenty OH six" so I usually just say "two thousand six" instead. I can't wait for 2010 so I can start saying "twenty ten"
It's all about laziness. We say "nineteen oh six" because it would take forever to say "one thousand nine hundred six." But it takes just as much work to say "two thousand six" as "twenty oh six" (count the syllables). "Twenty ten" however is quicker than "two thousand ten." I think our ancestors can look forward to saying "twenty one hundred" and "twenty one oh one", etc, etc.
Anyway, you're all hopelessy unhip. You should be saying "two kay six"! :)
Laziness??
It doesn't (at least for me) have anything to do with that. For me, 'twenty OH six' just
feels awkward and gangly.
Quote from: EagerMind on Mon 13/11/2006 18:57:36Anyway, you're all hopelessy unhip. You should be saying "two kay six"!
It's actually funny you mention that. I commented on it in my last post, but decided to cut it out. My brother and I had this ongoing joke about the whole Y2K bug thing ... and since we've referred to this first decade as 2K-whatever.
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Mon 13/11/2006 19:04:48Laziness??
It doesn't (at least for me) have anything to do with that. For me, 'twenty OH six' just feels awkward and gangly.
Sure, but I think the original point/question was, why do we say "nineteen hundred" but not "twenty hundred"? "Nineteen hundred" is obviously easier/quicker than "one thousand nine hundred". But "twenty hundred" is actually longer to say than "two thousand".
For the single-digit years, "two thousand six" and "twenty oh six" take just as much work, so we stick with what feels more natural. But as you suggested, I would expect us to switch to "twenty ten" when we hit 2010.
As for awkwardness and gangliness, I can't think of anything that beats "twenty one oh one", but I don't think you'll find anybody saying it any other way! ("Two kay one oh one" maybe?)
I still say if more ppl were willing to throw there hats over the wall, we'd all be in flying cars.
Quote from: EagerMind on Mon 13/11/2006 19:17:52
Sure, but I think the original point/question was, why do we say "nineteen hundred" but not "twenty hundred"? "Nineteen hundred" is obviously easier/quicker than "one thousand nine hundred". But "twenty hundred" is actually longer to say than "two thousand".
I gotcha! I mis-understood 'cause you quoted my text above it (thus I thought you were calling me lazy!)
I think, technically, if we had the convention of saying nineteen-whatever we should probably stick with that and use twenty-whatever. No matter how awkward. Then again ... I reckon it really doesn't matter.
If I say 2K6, twenty-oh-six, two thousand six, or "in the year of our lord two thousand plus six", I think most people will get it.