Colin the MathmoJan 14, 2023

OK, language weirdness question.

Someone recently said:

"I just about caught the train."

Did they catch it or not? Perhaps it depends whether you think of English as (one of) your first language(s).

As always, if you're happy to do so I'd be grateful if you'd boost for reach, and to get beyond my circle of followers.

Thank you!

They caught the train (EN)
24.9%
They missed the train (EN)
46.7%
They caught the train (other)
20.5%
They missed the train (other))
7.9%
Poll ended at .
Show threadrobinhoustonJan 14, 2023
@ColinTheMathmo Is this a “divided by a common language” thing? It seems unambiguous to me that they caught the train, but apparently I'm in a minority of English-speakers with that interpretation. Wondering if there's a UK/US divide.
Show threadAaron WilliamsonJan 14, 2023
@robinhouston @ColinTheMathmo “just about” has always meant “nearly” in my US English speaking world
Show threadrobinhoustonJan 14, 2023
@copiesofcopies I speak British English, so that's consistent with my hypothesis!
Show threadRo ClavertonJan 14, 2023
@robinhouston @copiesofcopies Brit English here. They definitely caught the train. I was surprised to see the poll numbers so high for missing it among English speakers.
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Another UK English speaker here. It's a bit of an odd usage, but I'd definitely assume they caught the train.
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023
@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies Over here (🇨🇦) I'd be inclined to assume they narrowly missed the train. "Just about" has the same connotation, to me, as "almost but not quite".
Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Very interesting. I know a fair bit about "2 nations divided by a common language" (though given you're Canadian that doesn't quite work here) but this isn't a difference I'd come across before.
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023

@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

We're extra divided over here: z's1 everywhere, but "ou" > "o" (eg, socialized labour).

—
1 "zed" unless we're talking about ZZ Top.

Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙Jan 14, 2023
@pjohanneson @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies
Pulled in 2 directions, but very politely? 😊
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 14, 2023

@ClaireCopperman @roclaverton @robinhouston @copiesofcopies

Eh

Show threadSomersetWhovian 🇺🇦💙
@pjohanneson
I meant that Canadian English is pulled by the UK on one side and the US on the other, but that you also have a reputation for being very polite. Badly expressed, especially in a thread about language!
Jan 14, 2023 at 11:54pmWeb
Show threadPatrick Johanneson 🚀 🇨🇦Jan 15, 2023
@ClaireCopperman
In fairness, I was being a bit glib: eh is one of the Canadian shibboleths. Sorry1, eh.
—
1 Another is using the word sorry while not actually apologizing.