KDE for years had a clock option called "fuzzy clock" where you could set the granularity of time, either in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 60 minute resolution. So it would just say "five to six" or whatever in words. It was designed to keep you from clock watching while working. Not sure if it exists anymore :)
Limmy used to have a talking clock on his website that'd say stuff like "just gone half two" if it was 14:32 or "coming up on three" at 14:58 or whatever. Surprisingly good idea.