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   clacke (clacke@libranet.de)'s status on Monday, 14-Jul-2025 16:21:21 JST clacke

   Not everyone is doing it, maybe even most aren't, but I feel like HK English has more of the "double <digit>" idiom than other English I've been exposed to.

   I don't know where it comes from, if certain schools are teaching it or what. I'm just noting that "double five" has more syllables that "five five" and "one double five eight" at least for me takes more mental effort to receive and understand than "one five five eight".

   And that's not even mentioning "double eighteen", what's up with that. 🤣

   • Embed this notice
     Mans R (mansr@society.oftrolls.com)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Jul-2025 10:46:35 JST Mans R

     in reply to

     @clacke It's very common in British English. Also for letters.

     clacke likes this.
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     Leif Lindholm (unixsmurf@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Jul-2025 10:46:48 JST Leif Lindholm

     in reply to

     @clacke
     "Okay, 2, 5".

     And if you say "5 5, two fives" you've lost the efficiency argument.

     Body language is ambiguous and not available over the phone, or if someone is paying attention to what they're putting into a form (digital or analog) while listening, and I think people are unlikely to switch modes.

     I can see why you'd stick with it if it's what you learned, and it definitely improves flow when you're surrounded by people who did.

     clacke likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     clacke (clacke@libranet.de)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Jul-2025 10:46:49 JST clacke

     in reply to

     • Leif Lindholm
     @unixsmurf If someone asks to repeat, I might emphasize "two fives", with eye contact and body langage making clear what's going on.
   • Embed this notice
     Leif Lindholm (unixsmurf@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Jul-2025 10:46:50 JST Leif Lindholm

     in reply to

     @clacke
     It does provide a way to distinguish stuttering or repeating because someone thinks the listener missed one digit.