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)?

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    1 year ago

    I have enough non native English speakers in my friend and work social groups that I would avoid saying it this way. It’s just begging for miscommunication.

    • Worx@lemmynsfw.comOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yep, I already discovered that xD

      Now I am trying to prove that I’m right on the Internet to make myself feel better

      • vortic@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        1 year ago

        Out of curiosity, how would you say “this saturday” and “next saturday” in your native language and what would the literal translation be?

        • Worx@lemmynsfw.comOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          1 year ago

          I would say “this Saturday” and “next Saturday”, which literally translates to “this Saturday” and “next Saturday”. My native language is English ;)

          • vortic@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            0
            ·
            1 year ago

            Hah, oops, I thought you meant that you learned this lesson as a non native english speaker! I must have misunderstood.

      • Vanth@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Agreed that “this” Saturday would be in 3 days and “next” Saturday would be the following.

        But to avoid this very conversation, I would at least say “the concert is not this Saturday but next Saturday”.

        If what you say is misunderstood or ambiguous to multiple people, is it really the correct way to say it? It’s at least not the best way or even a good way to say it.

        • Worx@lemmynsfw.comOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          It hadn’t occured to me that I could be misunderstood, in the same way that it didn’t occur to me to explain that Saturday is the one after Friday. When I say “next Saturday” it’s completely obvious what I mean!

          Judging by the comments here, and the fact that 4/9 people in my group thought I meant one thing and the other 5/9 thought I meant the other thing, this is a phrasing that I’ll have to retire. Even my own mother disagrees with me! I don’t know how I’ve made it so far through life without it being a problem before now

            • Worx@lemmynsfw.comOP
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              0
              ·
              1 year ago

              Yeah, I would usually just say the date but is was in a hurry on this occasion and ended up with a lot of confusion

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      This.

      There’s no point in “this” Saturday, just say Saturday. Or Saturday the 4th.

      “Next Saturday” is ambiguous, but most native English speakers will consider the following week, not the week you are in.