Here's a thing: from the day the century turned until the day before last, I never heard a single other person refer to this century as anything other than 'two thousand and [insert number of relevant year here]'. This year was called 'two thousand and six', the 9/11 year was called 'two thousand and one', future projections were made for 'two thousand and thirty'.
Then, the other day, I heard two completely different people in two completely different contexts say it, erm, differently. One was forecasting figures for 'twenty-ten'. Another was referring to some date last year as 'twenty-oh-five'.
Have there been other sightings? I'm not objecting to it or anything; it seems quite logical. We say 'ten sixty-six', not 'a thousand and sixty-six', after all. But two people in one day, suddenly? Is it a viral thing? Something in the water?
2 comments:
I have to say that I hear it quite often.
For some reason, I reckon I hear it a lot on newsradio.
I think it makes sense to start using it after 2010.
That way its just 'twenty-ten', or whatever. I think 'twenty-oh-nine' or anything which is 'twenty-oh-something' sounds a little forced.
Let's party like its twenty ninety-nine!
If the human race makes it to 2099 then I will be extremely surprised, especially after seeing Syriana yesterday.
I was just startled by the suddenness with which the 'twenty-' mode set in. Hadn't heard it once before (not in Australia in common usage, anyway) and then suddenly twice in one day.
It may have been this that made me notice hearing the word 'ennui' being used twice in 24 hours this week, too. Even if the second person did confidently pronounce it 'EN-you'.
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