Re: OT: Spatial thinking (WAS: Re: Letf / Right, was Re: Count and mass nouns)

On Thu, 22 Jan 2004, John Cowan wrote:

> Tristan McLeay scripsit:
>
> > That has nothing to do with a grid, though; it comes from a neumeric
> > system.
>
> There can be and are grids without numbers, as you say; but a numeric
> system without a grid is hardly conceivable.  I am told that somewhere
> in London's twisty little maze of streets, all different, there are
> a First, Second, and Third Streets -- forming a triangle.  Feh.
You already cite an example of your wrongness; if you need any more, go to
<http://www.street-directory.com.au/aus_new/>, enter 'First' into the
streetname, and see all the various non-grids with First, Second, Third
etc. that don't form a grid (I'd say look especially at Anglesea, but that
particular map seems to have been corrupted online. In brief, First Av
appears to be randomly placed, Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth Avs all
have components which are roughly parallel, as do Sixth, Ninth, Tenth and
Eleventh, and 5th and 7th (note the duplication of Sixth). Fifth crosses
through 6th, 4th and 3rd, ending parallel to 2nd. Eighth crosses 10th, 9th
and 6th. Seventh crosses 10th and 6th; 9th starts at it. At 7th, 3rd
becomes 8th. Or alternatively, never mind the details, it's a lot of
random streets, it isn't a grid, and they're numbered).

--
Tristan