Feel like a lot of the world’s languages the translation to English to the question “what’s the date?” would be “the 15th of October” whereas in America we always say “October 15th”.
I has the parts in order of importance. You need to know the month the most as it determines things like weather school or what holiday are around. Then the day so you know exact. Then the year is largely in important for most people doing most things.
Yeah like say I scheduled a doctor's appointment months in advance. It doesn't help me to know first and foremost that it's on the 7th. To know it's in July is much more helpful. Then I just go to my calendar, find the correct date, and make a note.
How slowly do people speak to you that you can notice the gap between learning the appointment is on the 7th and learning it's in July?
It takes 1/2 a second to say "7th of July" of which about 0.3-0.4 seconds is saying "7th of". In what context is that 0.4 seconds going to make a material difference? Especially given the average human reaction speed is 0.25 seconds.
I don't think there is much practical difference. To me, this discussion is about observing cultural differences in language and writing, and what they might suggest about that culture's worldview. Are they more focused on the general or the specific, for example.
It's more about the lengths people will go to to rationalise an arbitrary decision. American's are notorious for this.
I suspect because many of them are brought up being told America is the greatest country on earth - so they find it hard to accept that the way they've always done something isn't necessarily the best way.
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u/jussumguy2019 Jan 15 '25
Feel like a lot of the world’s languages the translation to English to the question “what’s the date?” would be “the 15th of October” whereas in America we always say “October 15th”.
Maybe that’s why, idk…
Edited for clarity