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Re: numeration system

From:Gary Shannon <fiziwig@...>
Date:Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 18:55
My impression is that the number names all sound too
much alike. To be easily understood under a variety of
listening conditions there needs to be greater
contrast between individual words.

Imagine giving someone a number over a bad phone
connection. I hear "ko ko ko ko ko ko ko"

That could be 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
or it could be 10 11 2 2
or it could be 10 10 10 2
or it could be 2 2 10 2 10

If I can't shout it too you across a noisy room and
have you understand it then it won't work.  If I can't
mouth it to you through a sound proof window and have
you understand it, it won't work. There just is enough
to make each number unique and different from all the
others.


How do I say 1,000? If it's kokokokokokokokokokokokoko
you're really in trouble!

--gary

> > 0 zo > > 2 ko > > 3 no > > 4 mo > > 5 lo > > 6 vo > > 7 fo > > 8 bo > > 9 po > > > > 10 koko > > 11 koko ko

Reply

Ray Brown <ray.brown@...>