# If today is Monday the 9th, then... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344 "2011-05-09T22:59:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/21 "2011-05-11T19:43:34Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > ‘Obvious’ meaning ‘you didn’t think of it’, then? No–because it leaves no ambiguity. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/22 "2011-05-11T19:57:30Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > It’s not even that confusing, since the past tense is used, and the context is about what you have done in the past, it can’t be for a future date. Contexts may arise with no indication of a time frame. For example, you work at a catering company that serves a lot of weekend parties. Your boss leaves a message on your voice mail Monday morning: “Mari Elena, I need to talk to you about this weekend. It’s urgent. Call me back ASAP!” If you had a job this past weekend, wherein something problematic may have happened, and you also have a big job this coming weekend, then it might leave you wondering. So it _ **can** _ be confusing. Of course, further negotiation is necessary to clarify the focus of the statement. It’s the intervening moments of ambiguity–and the follow-up discourse–that I’m researching. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/23 "2011-05-11T19:57:49Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Because it’s so close to this week that it’s practically still here. Or something. I hear it all the time. What?! :smack: I hope to GOD that logic isn’t widespread! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/24 "2011-05-11T23:15:23Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > What?! :smack: > > I hope to GOD that logic isn’t widespread! It’s not about logic, and this is a very common purpose of the dimension of language known as [deixis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deixis). _This_ and _that_ are not used only to reference physical proximity. And in fact, using _this_ for the upcoming weekend is purely conventional anyway, and is driven by logic as much (or as little) as the usage that **Freudian Slit** describes. It’s used, for example, to create discursive cohesion in writing and extended speech. (_This_ references an immediately and previously expressed idea, proposition or context): [QUOTE=Blog about depression] Two years ago May, I added another project. I would run this country shop with handmade items. **This** weakened the camel’s back as the saying goes. Then one by one my aunts and uncles got sick. A favorite uncle had already left us and I knew the rest were dying. **This** was something I couldn’t fix. [/quote] Another deictic function (besides simple physical proximity or distance) of _this_ (and _that_) also indexes _ **affect** _ (feeling): [QUOTE=Sports blog] I can identify with **this** guy [on TV]. I wonder why none of the national media put this on tv? [/quote] Or simply, [QUOTE=common statement] I can’t stand **that** woman [celebrity, etc.]] [/quote] This kind of deixis has nothing to do with “logic” or physical space, and though it may not be part or your personal idiolect, many English speakers employ it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/25 "2011-05-12T11:12:41Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Wha? > > I’d _never_ say that. Why would you ever say anything but “last weekend”? 😕 On Monday or Tuesday you would only say “last weekend I…” and not “over the weekend I…”? Because I find the latter less confusing than the one you’re astonished anyone would stray from. Besides, when people use “this weekend” to mean the one that just occured, they also use the past tense, as in “I saw my parents this weekend” which is hardly confusing to people paying attention to the tenses. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/26 "2011-05-12T12:15:37Z")
“This coming weekend.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/27 "2011-05-12T18:26:46Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > On Monday or Tuesday you would only say “last weekend I…” and not “over the weekend I…”? Because I find the latter less confusing than the one you’re astonished anyone would stray from. > > Besides, when people use “this weekend” to mean the one that just occured, they also use the past tense, as in “I saw my parents this weekend” which is hardly confusing to people paying attention to the tenses. Ooh! “Over the weekend.” I forgot about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/28 "2011-05-13T00:29:29Z")
As did I. And very insightful post, **guizot**. I think it’s a nice examination of some of the larger linguistic issues at play here. (Of course, I’m not an expert in the fine-tuning stuff, so that’s just my layman’s impression.) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/29 "2011-05-13T11:19:00Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Ooh! “Over the weekend.” I forgot about that one. > [@Leaper](#): > > As did I. Oh good. I was afraid this was going to turn into another “you New Englanders sure talk funny” things. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344/30 "2011-05-13T13:57:54Z")
I use both “this weekend” and “next weekend” interchangeably. I don’t think it’s ever been an issue, as context usually makes it clear if I mean the one that’s coming or the one that’s past. If I mean the weekend after that one, I’ll usually say “neeeext weekend” with a flapping motion indicating that “neeeext” weekend is further away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-today-is-monday-the-9th-then/581344.md?page=1)