When is next Saturday?

The King of Moo · 26-05-2016 10:39AM

degsie wrote: »

How about Saturday next?

That's an interesting one, very Irish in my experience and also quite ambiguous.
For me, that would mean "the Saturday after the next one." So today, that would be 04 June.
The logic of that to me is that when we hear "Saturday" first, we imagine the upcoming Saturday, but then when we hear "next" afterwards, we jump ahead one Saturday.
But I can also imagine some people using it to mean "the upcoming Saturday."
As it's not such a common form, there isn't really any established consensus.

FunLover18 · 26-05-2016 10:48AM

Gebgbegb wrote: »

So you rock up to the bus stop and ask some Joe what time is the next bus.
They say 2 minutes.
You say "seriously?, you mean this bus! Don't you?"
And he asks " what bus, I don't see no bus...?"
And you say... "No. Not the one coming now, the one after it!".
And he be like "whatever dude, I'm getting the next bus that comes along, not the next one after the next one".
And you punch him in the face and steal his IPhone.

Obtuse much?

If I rock up to a bus stop as a bus pulls in and ask you what time is the next bus, are you going to point to the one pulling up just to prove a point?

speedboatchase · 26-05-2016 10:48AM

Saturday - in two days
Next Saturday - in nine days

I have no why, and technically it makes no sense. But that's how I understand it to be.

galljga1 · 26-05-2016 12:49PM

I am getting a good chortle out of this thread.
We all have our own understanding of when next Saturday is, based on common usage in the area in which we circulate. I personally cannot say that one is correct and another is incorrect.
For me, today, it is the 28th.
Tomorrow, I will say it is tomorrow.
On the 28th, I will say it is the 4th of June.
The vast majority of people in my circle would agree.
That does not make the above correct, it is simply how the vast majority of people see it in my circle. I also fail to see how anyone could say it is incorrect.

batistuta9 · 26-05-2016 01:03PM

galljga1 wrote: »

I am getting a good chortle out of this thread.
We all have our own understanding of when next Saturday is, based on common usage in the area in which we circulate. I personally cannot say that one is correct and another is incorrect.
For me, today, it is the 28th.
Tomorrow, I will say it is tomorrow.
On the 28th, I will say it is the 4th of June.
The vast majority of people in my circle would agree.
That does not make the above correct, it is simply how the vast majority of people see it in my circle. I also fail to see how anyone could say it is incorrect.

but to you & people you interact with, next saturday refers to the 28th both today and tomorrow

the mighn't be able to say it's incorrect but they'll think it's stupid

galljga1 · 26-05-2016 01:08PM

batistuta9 wrote: »

but to you & people you interact with, next saturday refers to the 28th both today and tomorrow

the mighn't be able to say it's incorrect but they'll think it's stupid

I don't get why they will think it is stupid. It is what it is.

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 01:18PM

Brayson Thoughtless Bottle wrote: »

Says who? I think the other way is not correct.

This is just semantics to try make the argument plausible. "Next" or "the next" makes little difference in meaning. I would say "next left" and "the next left" interchangeably also.

"Next Saturday" is the next one coming "Saturday week" is the Saturday of next week.

But if it's a Sunday and you say "I'm going fishing Saturday week" you are not going fishing on the Saturday of next week, are you?

26-05-2016 01:25PM

HensVassal wrote: »

But if it's a Sunday and you say "I'm going fishing Saturday week" you are not going fishing on the Saturday of next week, are you?

Saturday week always is the Saturday after the next one. Last Sunday Saturday week was the 4th June, tomorrow Saturday week will still be the 4th of June. On Saturday, Saturday week becomes the 11th of June.

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:08PM

osarusan wrote: »

English language teacher here with more than a decade of experience and I disagree with you.

I absolutely would teach my students that it might be used in that way, and that they should be aware of that usage also.

Given the different understandings of the terms evident on this thread, I'd wonder just how broad the consensus is, and given that you accept the usage is 'somewhat common', I don't think you can make the declaration either.

It is now technically Summer. Would you say "This autumn I'm going camping" or "next Autumn"?

"next Autumn" sounds stupid

AmboMan · 26-05-2016 02:12PM

This Saturday & next Saturday are the same day !

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:15PM

What do people say regarding Christmas?

If it's October or November most people say "I'm spending this Christmas with the headbanger inlaws but next Christmas we're going away for it."

Maximus Alexander · 26-05-2016 02:15PM

Why would you go camping in autumn?

rubadub · 26-05-2016 02:15PM

maximoose wrote: »

So, just to clarify. It's now Thursday, if I was to ask you now:

"What are you doing next Saturday?"

Some of you are going to tell me what you're doing in two days time?

Some might tell you to be more fucking clear. Many would ask you do you mean this saturday or saturday week -that is what I would ask if some eejit used that phrase on a thursday or friday.

I hope after reading this thread people cop on not to use ambigious phrases like this which may lead to further unnecessary questioning or a misunderstanding which could be bad news for one or both parties.

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:19PM

Brayson Thoughtless Bottle wrote: »

Saturday week always is the Saturday after the next one. Last Sunday Saturday week was the 4th June, tomorrow Saturday week will still be the 4th of June. On Saturday, Saturday week becomes the 11th of June.

Yeah but you said Saturday week is the Saturday of next week. On Sunday it's not.

The King of Moo · 26-05-2016 02:20PM

HensVassal wrote: »

What do people say regarding Christmas?

If it's October or November most people say "I'm spending this Christmas with the headbanger inlaws but next Christmas we're going away for it."

For me it's similar to referring to days of the week:

This Christmas is Christmas 2016, next Christmas is Christmas 2017.

Though it would be very natural in early January to refer to the Christmas just past as "this Christmas."

scdublin · 26-05-2016 02:24PM

Always say "this Saturday" or "Saturday week" and then confirm the actual date to be sure with things like that. I can only imagine how many bookings are screwed up over the "next" thing.

osarusan · 26-05-2016 02:27PM

maximoose wrote: »

So, just to clarify. It's now Thursday, if I was to ask you now:

"What are you doing next Saturday?"

Some of you are going to tell me what you're doing in two days time?

Is this all a joke lads, am I being punked or something

If somebody asked you on Sunday morning 'what are you doing next Saturday?' would you think it meant the Saturday in 6 days time or the Saturday in 13 days time?

You'd probably feel much more need to clarify that you would in the scenario from your post.

This is the point I made in my first post on this thread - the distance between 'now' and the day being talked about (even when it's in the same week) does have an effect on the usage of 'this' and 'next'.

As The King of Moo pointed out, in some scenarios (conversation in early January), 'this Christmas' might even refer to the one that has just finished. The Christmas to come is sufficiently far away that we might refer to it as 'next', but as we get closer to it, usage of 'next' will drop and eventually disappear completely.

PabloAndRoy · 26-05-2016 02:34PM

ITT:
People who believe that "next" does not actually mean "next", but means "the one after the next".

Many of these people also seem to believe that the people, who believe that "next" actually means "next", are crazy.

galljga1 · 26-05-2016 02:36PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

ITT:
People who believe that "next" does not actually mean "next", but means "the one after the next".

Many of these people also seem to believe that the people, who believe that "next" actually means "next", are crazy.

That about sums it up.
Next.

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:38PM

In the beginning there was only this Saturday and next Saturday. It was simple and most people got it. "this" Saturday was the Saturday of this week and "next" Saturday was the Saturday of next week.

But a select few numbskulls couldn't get with it and always referred to the nearest Saturday in the future as "next" Saturday, thereby rendering the concept of "this" as defunct. So we had to introduce another construct to clarify next Saturday for these clowns. We had to actually start defining when their concept of next Saturday fell, i.e. "A week on Saturday" which was whittled down to "Saturday week" to accomdate these spannerheads.

The King of Moo · 26-05-2016 02:40PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

ITT:
People who believe that "next" does not actually mean "next", but means "the one after the next".

Many of these people also seem to believe that the people, who believe that "next" actually means "next", are crazy.

I think what you wrote should be:

People who believe that "next" does not actually mean "the next", but means "the one after the next".

The the is an important distinction, as the next Saturday would technically be this Saturday.

I also completely understand why people think "the next" when they hear "next Saturday." I don't think they're crazy.

galljga1 · 26-05-2016 02:40PM

HensVassal wrote: »

In the beginning there was only this Saturday and next Saturday. It was simple and most people got it. "this" Saturday was the Saturday of this week and "next" Saturday was the Saturday of next week.

But a select few numbskulls couldn't get with it and always referred to the nearest Saturday in the future as "next" Saturday, thereby rendering the concept of "this" as defunct. So we had to introduce another construct to clarify next Saturday for these clowns. We had to actually start defining when their concept of next Saturday fell, i.e. "A week on Saturday" which was whittled down to "Saturday week" to accomdate these spannerheads.

I thought this was going to be a biblical passage.

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:43PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

For me it's similar to referring to days of the week:

This Christmas is Christmas 2016, next Christmas is Christmas 2017.

Though it would be very natural in early January to refer to the Christmas just past as "this Christmas."

I am with you 100%

Likewise this August is August 2016. next august is August 2017.

Do the "Saturday week" gang refer to August 2016 as "next" August and August 2017 as "August year" or some shit? No, because they haven't succeeded in their nefarious plot to subvert the concept of this/next in relation to timeframes within a year.....the stupid bastards :pac:

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 02:54PM

Maireadio wrote: »

That's nice and all, but not very convincing. It's safe to assume most people on this thread have English as their first language. And yet, people have intrepreted the phrase differently. How do you decide that who of those native speakers has it right?

And someone pointed out earlier in the thread that where they were in the US, 'next Saturday' is always the upcoming Saturday (i.e. the 28th) and 'this Saturday' is the Saturday just passed.

If you are the expert you say you are, convince us, instead of just saying "I'm right" and waffling on as you did above. Just saying you have knowledge isn't very convincing in and of itself.

Look at some of the other retarded construct they made up.

15:45 is referred to as "Quarter of four" ..Jesus wept.

galljga1 · 26-05-2016 03:48PM

HensVassal wrote: »

I am with you 100%

Likewise this August is August 2016. next august is August 2017.

Do the "Saturday week" gang refer to August 2016 as "next" August and August 2017 as "August year" or some shit? No, because they haven't succeeded in their nefarious plot to subvert the concept of this/next in relation to timeframes within a year.....the stupid bastards :pac:

This (or is it that) gave me a good laugh. Nefarious plot, subverting concepts...

Maximus Alexander · 26-05-2016 03:48PM

HensVassal wrote: »

"Quarter of four"

One o'clock obviously. Everything in language is literal.

One of the clock. The clock owns the one. You can't have it.

26-05-2016 03:57PM

HensVassal wrote: »

Yeah but you said Saturday week is the Saturday of next week. On Sunday it's not.

I was just using that terminology in that comparison I made.

"Saturday week" is always the Saturday after the next one that is approaching.

PabloAndRoy · 26-05-2016 04:02PM

HensVassal wrote: »

I am with you 100%

Likewise this August is August 2016. next august is August 2017.

Do the "Saturday week" gang refer to August 2016 as "next" August and August 2017 as "August year" or some shit? No, because they haven't succeeded in their nefarious plot to subvert the concept of this/next in relation to timeframes within a year.....the stupid bastards :pac:

August 2016 = is just "August". e.g. It will happen in August (its obvious what is meant)
August 2017 = "August next year" .

If someone said to me "next August" I would respond by asking "this coming August?" People don't really say next August though do they?

But if someone said to me today, next December I would assume that they mean December 2016.

To be fair .. there is no right or wrong way on all of this stuff .. Personally, I avoid saying "next Saturday" as I have learned that people understand that differently. Instead I say either "this Saturday coming" or or "Saturday (next) week".

Some people get all fussed up about this sort of stuff unnecessarily.

average_runner · 26-05-2016 04:26PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

ITT:
People who believe that "next" does not actually mean "next", but means "the one after the next".

Many of these people also seem to believe that the people, who believe that "next" actually means "next", are crazy.

But if you tell these people to go next door, they go to the first house!

HensVassal · 26-05-2016 04:26PM

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

August 2016 = is just "August". e.g. It will happen in August (its obvious what is meant)
August 2017 = "August next year" .

If someone said to me "next August" I would respond by asking "this coming August?" People don't really say next August though do they?

But if someone said to me today, next December I would assume that they mean December 2016.

To be fair .. there is no right or wrong way on all of this stuff .. Personally, I avoid saying "next Saturday" as I have learned that people understand that differently. Instead I say either "this Saturday coming" or or "Saturday (next) week".

Some people get all fussed up about this sort of stuff unnecessarily.

The problem I have with the whole Saturday week thing is that it becomes kind of obsolete or out of context as we move through the days of the week. The this/next construct doesn't do that.

The "next Saturday/Saturday week" paradigm changes as the days go by but the week remains the same. For example on Tuesday they would say "next friday I'm babysitting but friday week I'm going on the piss". Now fastforward to Saturday or Sunday. They have to readjust the whole fucking thing even though their position in terms of what week they are in hasn't changed. They are still in this week. They have to say "Friday just gone, I was babysitting. Next Friday I'm going on the piss". If they were to refer to Friday week during this time it would be the friday in the week after next and that's completely out of context....miles into the future (ok not really but still outside of the initial frame of this week and next week that most people mentally reside in regarding the present and near future).

The "this/next" paradigm doesn't suffer from this poxy requirement for radjustment. On Tuesday, I am in this week and I can say "this Friday I'm babysitting but next Friday I'm going on the piss". Fast forward to Saturday or Sunday. I can say "this Friday I was babysitting but next Friday I'm going on the piss." And I'm still in this week. It never has to be readjusted as you move forward unlike the "next Saturday/Saturday week" abomination.

When is next Saturday?

Comments