this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not efficent but certainly effective.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

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