[General] 21st Century

[riquecohen]

Since the beginning of the current century I've heard each year spoken of as two thousand six, two thousand ten, etc. For dates in the eleventh century we speak of ten sixty-six, etc. Does anyone know why we use the current designation rather than twenty o six, twenty ten, etc?

 

[5jj]

Probably because there was so much preparation for the year two thousand.
OK, that begs the question, "Why wasn't it twenty hundred?"

Perhaps because for speakers coming from countries with a Christian tradition, the thought of it being two thousand years since the birth of JC was more in their minds than a consistent naming of years.

 

[birdeen's call]

Do you think it'll be "twenty fifty-seven" or "two thousand fifty-seven"?

 

[Raymott]

Do you think it'll be "twenty fifty-seven" or "two thousand fifty-seven"?

I think it will be "twenty fifty-seven", and that the original question is comparing apples (the first decade) with oranges (the rest).
I'd personally call 1002, "the year one thousand and two" rather than "ten oh two".

PS: In AusE, "Twenty eleven" is at least as common for next year, as used by TV presenters, and ads, and even normal people.

 

[bhaisahab]

In the UK most people and pretty much all TV presenters are saying "twenty-ten", I prefer and use (at the moment) "two thousand and ten".

 

[Rover_KE]

In the UK most people and pretty much all TV presenters are saying "twenty-ten", I prefer and use (at the moment) "two thousand and ten".

How long will you keep that up, bhaisahab?

Rover

 

[Tdol]

I'm already twenty-ten.