Re: ConNumbers

On Tue, 8 Jun 1999, Chris Peters wrote:

>         So I thought to myself, who would count in base-6?  Certainly nobody I know
> about ... all natlangs I've even touched in my studies count in base-10.
> And I'm rather prejudiced against creating an alien culture for my language
> (the reasons for that are best left to a different thread).  So I'd like to
> know from y'all, is there a precedent for any human language with a number
> system besides base-10?  And how did that manifest itself in the culture
> that used it?
>
If I recall rightly, the Babylonians have been the first attested culture
with a base-12 system, of which traces abound in lots of languages. No doubt
related to rumours (as spread by R.A. Lafferty), that the Babylonians
had six fingers...

Charya has a base-10 system, like most peoples, but they
recognize 9 as a holy or magical number. There are nine hells
(although some sources say 7), nine steps to the stairs
that lead to the emperors palace, nine tones to the octave
(nonave?). The usual explanation is that nine is one less
than perfection, and therefore the best attainable.


Boudewijn Rempt  | http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt