Wednesday, June 13, 2007

B-person

In Danish we have the terms "A person" and "B person" ("A menneske" og "B menneske"). The former likes to get to bed early and get up early. The latter likes to stay up late and get up late. (I'm the latter.)

My Danish-English dictionary claims that the terms are the same in English, but from online dictionaries and use, this seems not to be the case. Does anybody know if there are terms in English/American for these concepts? 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

In psychology they talk about Type A and Type B. But this isn't just about sleep patterns. Maybe it's not the same thing you are talking about.

I have discovered my natural day to be about 24.5 hours long. Unless I resist it I will go a full cycle every 8 weeks or so.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

Ya, "type A" and "type B" seem to be a different concept.

Hannah said...

I've never heard the terms A or B person in English, though it could be because I'm not involved this field... as far as I know, the terms "morning person" and "evening person" are used.

Eolake Stobblehouse said...

That would work.

Anonymous said...

Danish is for philosophers, and German for engineers or psychologists: English is a language for warrior poets (even if sometimes the poets are Irish) so the terms you are looking for are 'night owl' and 'morning lark'.

Hannah said...

I've actually heard it as night owl and morning bird, but don't hear that saying much.

Anonymous said...

Around here its "night owl" and "early bird". Im a night owl but mostly because Im most creative around 3 in the morning. This works fine for me but not if I want to work with anyone else who doesnt keep the same hours.

Anonymous said...

Dagnabbit! Everyone beat me with the good answers. ;o)

Suzy and I are morning people which can be career limiting if we every try to make music our main job.

Alex said...

I've found "night owl" and "early bird" on both sides of the Atlantic.

I've never heard "Evening Person" or "morning lark", be it in NW UK or CA.

Around here the early bird always get asked to stay for the 4pm meeting, which never starts before 5 and finishes about 7. Needless to say I gave up early bird, and get into work about 10 now.

Anonymous said...

Hannah said...
... as far as I know, the terms "morning person" and "evening person" are used.


Same in French.

Anonymous said...
"English is a language for warrior poets"


Ah, yes, the epic works of John J. Rambo immediately spring to mind. ;-)

Anonymous said...

"They drew first blood,
I didn't start this war, sir.
They drew first blood."

classic haiku by JjR

Anonymous said...

Hannah said...
... as far as I know, the terms "morning person" and "evening person" are used.

Same in French.


Same in Dutch.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Leviathud, ever the poet! :-D