Re: Types of numerals

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Thomas Hart Chappell
<tomhchappell@Y...> wrote:

>"To decimate smthng" means "to reduce smthng by removing one-tenth
>of it".
>From my experience, both using & hearing, the connotative meaning
has outdistanced the denotative.  The AHD lists the connotative
first: "To destroy or kill a large part of;" then the
denotative: "To select by lot and kill one in every ten of."  In
talking about numbers, I don't believe anyone would put "decimate"
in the same verb category as "halve."

When I was in the Peace Corps in Honduras I learned that their
monetary unit was the lempira (containing 100 centavos) which was
named after an Indian leader who resisted the Spanish.  IIRC, his
picture was on at least one of the denominations.

I'm surprised that in this discussion no one has mentioned the stone
money of Yap.  Definitely not pocket change!  BTW, they're not
making any more of it.  I find it very interesting & wonder how it
came about on the island, but, so far as I know, nowhere else.

Some may be aware that some Americans call foreign currency "funny
money."  I should think that this is because of all the colors &
sizes when compared to the American same-size, same-color bills.
Reminds one of monopoly money.  When handling money a lot, one
becomes acquainted with the designs of the bills, so different
colors are not necessary.  I can spot a $20-bill in the collection
basket without having to unroll it!  And why do people feel a need
to roll up & fold their bills before dropping them in the basket???

Senjecan has a suffix "-pelis" which can be added to an ordinal
number to make a multiplicative adj./adv. (du, two; dupêlis, double;
dupélvi, doubly), or "-pêla" to form the corresponding verb (to
double).

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