Re: Time in various languages...

Joachim Pense wrote:
>
> Am Sat, 14 Jan 2006 13:08:49 GMT schrieb Peter T. Daniels:
>
> > Seán O'Leathlóbhair wrote:
> >
> >> You probably should have two or more English versions. Common usage
> >> differs in the UK and US. 10:30 is commonly "half ten" here in the UK
> >> but I believe that is rare in the US.
> >
> > Unknown. Whenever a visiting English says it to me, I have to ask
> > whether it means 9:30 (halfway to 10) or 10:30 (no convincing mnemonic).
> >
> > Half past ten is sparklingly clear.
>
> "Halb zehn" is the German standard for 9:30 (halfway to ten). When I was in
> England, I often heard "half ten", but invariably with the meaning "half
> past ten". I was particularly alert here, because this is a
> false-friend-situation.

That could well feed my confusion, since I learned to tell time in
German in 10th grade (1965-66) but encountered the British usage only
recently.
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@xxxxxxx
.

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