Tooling around on wikipedia (click for page), came across this, thought it was interesting.
Currently, everyone/we (aka the world) say "two-thousand-and-X," but apparently we'll eventually switch over to saying it in a pattern similar to before, the example being 1911 was read "nineteen-eleven," thus 2011 should and apparently will be said "twenty-eleven," not two-thousand-and-eleven." Read on.
Currently, everyone/we (aka the world) say "two-thousand-and-X," but apparently we'll eventually switch over to saying it in a pattern similar to before, the example being 1911 was read "nineteen-eleven," thus 2011 should and apparently will be said "twenty-eleven," not two-thousand-and-eleven." Read on.
Wikipedia wrote:
Among experts and the general public, there is a debate as to how specific years of the 21st century, including 2011, should be pronounced in English. Although the majority of English-speakers say "two thousand (and) X" for any specific year post–1999, it is often suggested that the continuation of this type of pronunciation for the entire 21st century would be inappropriate or unnatural, given the alternative "twenty X" option.
Many experts agree that majority usage of "two thousand (and) X" is a result of influences from the Y2K hype, as well as the way "2001" was pronounced in the influential 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Experts also suggest that since former years such as 1805 and 1905 were commonly pronounced as "eighteen oh" or "nineteen oh" five, the year 2005 should naturally have been pronounced as "twenty oh-five".[1]
Many people, ranging from linguistic and academic experts to Internet bloggers, predict that the "twenty X" pronunciation method will eventually prevail, but a timeframe as to when this change will occur often differs. The year 2010 is suggested by many,[2][3] while 2011[1] and 2013 are popular as well. The latest timeframe for change is usually placed at 2020[1] or 2100.
According to a recent press release, David Crystal, author of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, has predicted that the change will occur in 2011, to "twenty eleven", explaining that the way people pronounce years depends on rhythm, rather than logic. Crystal claims that the rhythm or "flow" of "two thousand (and) ten", beats out that of "twenty ten", but the flow of "twenty eleven" beats out "two thousand (and) eleven".[1] Alternatively, Ian Brookes, editor-in-chief of Chambers Dictionary, suggests the change will occur in 2013. The UK Times has suggested 2020 as a final timeframe for the change, saying "If people can have “twenty-twenty” vision, then surely they should also live in the year “twenty twenty”."[1]
It is noted that, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in Vancouver, Canada, are being officially referred to as "the twenty-ten Olympics",the 2011 Rugby World Cup officially as "the New Zealand twenty-eleven Rugby World Cup". The London olympics, taking place in 2012, are also being officially referred to by London 2012 as "the twenty-twelve Olympics". Chicago 2016, which operates the official Chicago bid for the 2016 games, refers to the "twenty-sixteen games".
