Re: CHAT: mathematics

John Cowan wabbe:


> On Sat, 18 Nov 2000, Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
>
> > I love how the history of mathematical prejudice is recorded in
the names
> > of number-types: rational, irrational, imaginary, complex,
nonstandard...<G>
>
> Don't forget negative.
ObConlang

In my proposal for a math module for NGL I proposed the following
names for the set of numbers ({duol} means number):
  duolniri :  natural numbers (from niri A - hard)
  duolku'i : rational numbers (from ku'i V - compare)
  duolrino :  real numbers (from rino S - oil)
  duolitro :  imaginary numbers (from itro A - ortogonal)

I had two things in mind: using a different approach than the one we
use in English or Spanish with all that historical background.  And
trying to use the mnemonics of the usual representation of each set:
(N, Q, R, I).

I'm still thinking if I could get a good name for both Integers (Z),
Irrational (R-Q) and complex (C).

Probably irrationas will be called {duolinku'i}.

Some posibilities I'm considering for integers:
  duolzaut : from steam/trunk numbers
  duolzoih : from root numbers
  duolzuoh : from wild numbers
  duolzuy :  from wing numbers
Other attested roots begining in {z} mean: officer, close, brain, to
rule, danger, thogh, touch, mils alcoholic brevage, condition, to
develop, arm/hand, dependent, comb, must, predictable, China, to slip,
back and forth, child, play, fun, if, six, all.

For complex numbers I have less ideas, but those roots begining in C
mean: seven, front/chest, to react, to act, board, lens, to let, to
pump, to approve, tool, to mark, to open, essentially, reazon/logic,
time/weather, Chile, chimpanzee, bright/white/ugly, error, puberscent,
with (instrumental), building, art, to burn, deep/low.

Some ideas which of these words would be a nice analogy for complex
numbers?

-- Carlos Th