Way O/T: language question....

H

hounddogs

Cathlete
Okay, educated crowd. I've been puzzling over this for three plus years now, and it's time to come forward and share my wonder. The mass media as well as more serious writers and users of the English language love to group human events and history into decades. We always here about the sixties, the thirties, or, unfortunately, that seventies show. Why hasn't there been a collective decision made about what to call this decade, or have I just been missing it? Oughtn't it be the aughts? Or maybe the naughts? How about the naughties? (Sorry)....Any th'oughts would be welcome. Thanks.

--Ann
 
Hahahaa... that's actually a good question... I have no idea personally, but I'm going to ask around on that one :) See if anybody else has been thinking about it.

Sara
 
This was bandied about at the end of the nineties, then it disappeared. No consensus has been reached. What I've observed, is that whenever this decade needs referring to, it's called "the 21st century". I guess by the end of the decade something will emerge as we enter the teens.
 
Wow, where did you come up with such a deep question? I'm not being sarcastic, this has really made me think.

I guess that in the later part of this century, this era will be referred to "the turn of the century," just like we do with the 1900's. But I could be wrong. I guess we'll find out in the future. LOL
 
How about the oughts or is it aughts. I just remember in the musical The Music Man, Harold Hill claimed to be a graduate of the Gary Indiana University - the class of ought 5 (meaning '05) or was it aught 5?
-joy
 
Thanks for all your responses, and by the way, I do know the difference between here and hear. My excuse? I saw the optometrist today and I need a new prescription. Proofreading these messages makes me squint. I think Cathe should come out with an eye workout. Imagine: lid lifts with 20 gram dumbells.

--Ann
 
Here in England it started being referred to as the "naughties" at the end of the previous decade. I've heard it referred to this several times since!
 
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