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Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 12:07:08 PM

Title: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 12:07:08 PM
Tuesday here is just an example, same goes for any day of the week....

I have always believed 'next Tuesday', assuming today is not Tuesday, will be the first day within a period of 7 days hence that is a Tuesday.   But I have noticed, when I ask Apple's assistant Siri, "what date is next Tuesday" she thinks otherwise.   Specifically, today is Friday 26th January.   I would say Next Tuesday is 30th January.  Siri tells me it is 6th February.  ???

Just wondered if anybody else finds that odd, or just me.  Maybe an American habit?  Or have I been wrong my whole life?  ???

To Siri's credit, if I ask "what date is this Tuesday", she tells me correctly it is the 30th Jan.  So there may be some logic in it, but just not the way I have always thought. :-\
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: andyfitter on January 26, 2018, 12:33:43 PM
I go along with what is mostly said here...

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/36419/next-friday-vs-this-friday

'This Tuesday' is the next one coming, 'Next Tuesday' is the one after. It follows a similar pattern to 'This Week', 'Next Week'.

However... if its Wednesday and somebody says 'Next Tuesday', thats where the confusion creeps in...

I'm from the UK btw.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: roseway on January 26, 2018, 12:34:58 PM
I take "Next Tuesday" to mean the Tuesday of next week. So if it's currently Monday, then next Tuesday is in eight days' time. I certainly can't understand Siri's logic.

But it's always been a bit vague in my mind, so when the phrase is used in conversation I always clarify exactly what day is being referred to.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 01:57:37 PM
Interesting that others disagree.   I am sticking to my own ultra literal interpretation, except maybe to agree that if asked on a Monday  it might imply a week and a day, to distinguish from the word ‘tomorrow’.

This arose because I have something to do that must be done by end of January.   I simply wanted to know whether I could put it off until Tuesday and being too lazy to count it out on my fingers, I thought I’d just ask Siri...

I only have Siri.   I wonder if anybody would care to ask Alexis, or OK Google, for comparison sakes?
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: Black Sheep on January 26, 2018, 02:18:19 PM
I'm a Northerner, and up here 'Next Tuesday' means the very next Tuesday to come along ......... so yes, within 7days.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: roseway on January 26, 2018, 02:21:17 PM
Today is Friday 26 Jan. According to my Android phone, next Tuesday is 30 Jan and next Saturday is 3 Feb. So it looks as though Google agree with my interpretation.  :silly:
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: Browni on January 26, 2018, 02:34:59 PM
Alexa says next Tuesday is January 30th.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: Black Sheep on January 26, 2018, 02:35:18 PM
Today is Friday 26 Jan. According to my Android phone, next Tuesday is 30 Jan and next Saturday is 3 Feb. So it looks as though Google agree with my interpretation.  :silly:

........... and mine.  ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 03:05:03 PM
Thanks for perseverance folks.   Not sure what to conclude, other than don’t trust Siri. And maybe invest in an old fashioned wall callendar.  :D
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: renluop on January 26, 2018, 03:59:57 PM
Siri's 6 February is known as Tuesday week i.e. a week from next Tuesday.

I guess these confusions arise from national cultures, like the French "huit" and "quinze jours", where they count inclusively.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: Westie on January 26, 2018, 04:12:27 PM
Siri on my iPad reports
"This Tuesday" is Tuesday 30th January
"Next Tuesday is Tuesday 6th February
"The Tuesday after next" is Friday 2nd February  :lol:

That's the first time ever I've used Siri....and probably the last
He/she can go back in the box  :shoot:
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: j0hn on January 26, 2018, 04:28:58 PM
To me, next Tuesday is the Tuesday after next.
Next Tuesday is 6th February.
This Tuesday is 30th January.
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 05:06:01 PM
Siri's 6 February is known as Tuesday week i.e. a week from next Tuesday.

I agree, that is what I would call "Tuesday week".  I actually like using that form in conversation, as I always regarded it as a quirk of the English (UK) language, and I am proud to be a speaker of quirky UK English.

But brace yourself...

Me:  "Hey Siri, what date is Tuesday week"?
My watch:  "It was Tuesday, 23 January 2018"

Same on the Mac and, I assume iPhone too.   I do actually get a lot of value from Siri, and I often speak out in Apple's defence when under criticism, but I have to admit this time, I'm struggling to defend.    :D
 
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 26, 2018, 05:09:17 PM
"The Tuesday after next" is Friday 2nd February  :lol:

Wow, you're right.   Where on earth does that one come from?    ???
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: broadstairs on January 26, 2018, 05:09:49 PM
To me, next Tuesday is the Tuesday after next.
Next Tuesday is 6th February.
This Tuesday is 30th January.

No I disagree, when I say Next Tuesday I mean the next one to come along so today Friday 26th January next Tuesday is Tuesday 30th. Always what I have meant and so far never been misunderstood, even on a Monday, although on a Monday I would probably say tomorrow! I also agree the 6th February wold be Tuesday week!

Stuart
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: jelv on January 26, 2018, 05:33:15 PM
https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/67658/what-does-a-week-on-tuesday-mean
Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: kitz on January 31, 2018, 11:47:50 PM
I've always taken it to mean the one coming up.   
I've just asked Alexa and she says "Next Thursday will be 1st of February 2018"  ie Tomorrow.

I then asked her "Alexa - What date is Tuesday week?"
She replied "This might answer your question.  Tuesday will occur on 6th of February 2018"

Title: Re: Language: What is meant by 'Next Tuesday'
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on February 01, 2018, 12:48:24 AM
I then asked her "Alexa - What date is Tuesday week?"
She replied "This might answer your question.  Tuesday will occur on 6th of February 2018"

Credit to Alexa, for acknowledging that it might (or might not) be the right answer.     Siri rarely admits to being uncertain.  If she (mine is configured with female voice) misunderstands, she will usually just guess and give a commited answer, like starting navigation to Costco when I asked for (say) a weather forecast ::)

In the case of “Next Tuesday” though, I sympathise.    I know nothing at all about Artificial Intelligence.   But I do wonder whether what we doing here is to compare AI with context-dependent common sense, and finding not much of an overlap. :-\