Posted by Primer Gray on January 28, 2002 at 12:44:50:
In Reply to: Re: Addition and semantics... posted by Emily on January 28, 2002 at 12:21:28:
: : However, he has only completed 62 years. Now, when was that particular part of the site updated? Could that sentence not have been written before Nov 3, 2001? Why does this issue even matter to you?
: That's exactly the point I was going to make...kind of. Some things that don't logically make sense, make sense socially. For example, if I went to the grocery store right now and told someone I'm in my 21st year, probably close to 100% of them would take that to mean that I'm 21, when I'm actually 20. It's the way society has evolved words.
: Bart, if you want to argue this point, you'd have to argue other things that don't make logical sense, as well. Has anyone ever told you to "have a seat"? Do you take the seat and walk away when they say that, or do you sit down? Have you ever used the term "type" as a verb to refer to hitting keys on a keyboard? Did you know that a "type" is really an individual metal letter that the printing presses used in the beginning days of printed newspapers? Through the years of typewriters (Which makes more sense) and computers, it's come to be a verb.
: Phrases and words evolve, Bart.
Right, connotations vs denotations...while you might say you are experiecing your 21st year, most people take that to mean you are 21...that you mean you are experiencing the year that follows your 21st birthday. I worry that young Bartholomew will get an ulcer before he reaches the experience of his 21st year. :-)