Henrik Theiling wrote:
>No, the exponent defaults to one.
Really? So kjox ling ling ling = 11.1??
>Further, if there is more than one digit, the base must be specified
>even if it is one.
>But maybe to accept this I should have mentioned that the above is the
>short form of numbers in environments where the base is agreed on.
>Further, the base is constant throughout the number by default unless
>stated otherwise. So 'kjox' is more the exponent marker in base 10
>environments.
>
>If the base is not agreed on, the first used base must be in the long
>form, using the verb 'to take the power of' explicitly. This verb is
>'il':
>
> kul il kjok == 10^2 = 100
Ah, so numbers are phonemically different when used as a base and when used
as a digit?? That definitely clears the system up a lot.
> >... Even if you disallow digits if the base is something else than
> >10, you still get cases like "kjox kul kjox hen" having an
> >alternative analysis as "30^20".
>
>Because the exponent is agreed on when using the short number form,
>'kjox kul kjox hen' this can only mean:
>
> 3*10^20
What exactly is "short form"? Anything that omits something?
> > OTOH, if Base must always be 10, I don't see why it needs to be
> > specified at all;
>
>To mark the border between exponent and sequence of digits.
>
> > you can do with just a marker for "number ends".
>
>It basically functions just like that for the exponent.
I see. :)
> > Are there any other instances where Base can be omitted than the
> > natural numbers 0 thru 9? Will "hen kul" mean anything??
>
>Not officially; only in base 3. But in very casual speech, you're
>likely to hear it anyway in base ten environments. Pedants will then
>immediately ask for the order of magnitude, though, or will assume
>base three. :-)
>
>**Henrik
Anyway, I think this is quite a fine system; not any less simple than
natlangs, but definitely more powerful. I also guess it'd make mathematics
seem easier - at least with a constant base (is there some cultural reason
for multi-basing anyway?)
John Vertical