Re: measuring time

# 1 wrote at 2005-06-16 19:42:09 (-0400)
 > For Vbazi, I've tried to create some measures for my language and I
 > want my units of measure be independant of the other systems
 >
 > For units of distance, I know that using steps or arms is a good
 > way with an acceptable imprecision
 >
 > But my problem is about units of time, there are the year, the moon
 > cycle, and the day but I don't know what I could use that may be
 > more little than a day.
 >
 > I've thought of using hearth rhythm, but that's not precise and too
 > short
 >
 > Did you already use other things for units of time to avoid the
 > hour/minutes/second system?
 >

There are various physical constants which could provide a
non-arbitrary basis for time units, but unless your culture is
relatively advanced scientifically when these units are devised, they
probably won't be aware of them.

If you have units of length, I suppose you could define a pendulum,
and make the period of that your unit.  Or define an hour-glass or
water-clock of particular dimensions.  Usually you'd have the unit
first and make a clock to count it, though, not the other way around.

Is there any particular reason not to take the obvious route, and
divide the day by numbers other than 24 / 60 / 60?

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