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From: mrz5149@rit.cs.rit.edu (M. R. Zucca)
Subject: Re: Hapass was Re: Arabic numbering system
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References: <43p64i$9rf@clarknet.clark.net> <1995Sep21.062306.28241@ciba-geigy.ch> <5vDa54Xhf$B@tiger.toppoint.de> <1995Oct5.095519.18946@onionsnatcorp.ox.ac.uk> <mrz5149-0510952152400001@ppp30.cs.rit.edu> <rte-0610951313350001@mac-118.lz.att.com> <mrz514 <45c51c$85c@adam.spu.edu> <45ljto$95p@news.netvision.net.il>
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 21:33:13 GMT
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In article <45ljto$95p@news.netvision.net.il>, Avi Jacobson
<a-jacobson@netmedia.co.il> wrote:

[snip]
> The point is that as a teen, I tried to use the familiar "twenty *after* 
> five" (is that only used in and around my native Philadelphias?) and was
> astounded to note that it  was incomprehensivle (not just "funny-sounding")
> to Brits, Ossies, and Sou'Africans!

"twenty after five" works well in the New York/New Jersey area and I would
imagine that it works well in the rest of the US.

I've heard "twenty *past* five" as well.

I'm quite surprised that non-US speakers would have trouble with this one.
It's pretty obvious from context unless you happened to simply spring it
on them. Although, "half six" would put me back if I heard it. :)

-- 
______________________________________________________________________________
 Michael Zucca <> mrz5149@rit.cs.rit.edu <> Rochester Institute Of Technology
     "If the speed of light is not infinite, then it's awful damned fast."
                                  - Galileo -
