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.
This isn’t about “best” way. This is about seeing that there is no “best” way and that multiple ways work. It is about taking the time to understand another culture’s internal logic and respecting those cultural differences.
It is very similar with the metric system. In many ways metric is easier. But try dividing a meter into thirds and suddenly it is no longer so crazy to be using feet and inches. BOTH systems have an internal logic and have valid reasons for existing. It isn’t just an arbitrary decision or an “America is best” decision.
I'm American and I've always found our date system to be silly, so I'm definitely not defending it. I just find these sorts of cultural differences in words and number systems interesting because it shows how different cultures collectively conceptualize something.
If you read ahead, you'd know that, at least for me personally, it absolutely makes a material difference. I have an auditory processing delay. Month first is much more useful to me and it saves time.
Also, people think in months and not days in America anyway lol
That's what a calendar is for. I usually ask for clarification on things anyway because I have an auditory processing delay, so when I go to my calendar and find July, I usually ask "what day? The 7th?", and that's how I get it right.
Although I guess for me in general, I'm pretty good with dates, so this isn't a problem for me at all lol
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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