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In Latin, sometimes numbers have synonyms, like 18 (two from twenty or eight and ten). In my mind, the Roman system was very obvious. Then I learned to read a l
by nescioquid 3y ago
In Latin, sometimes numbers have synonyms, like 18 (two from twenty or eight and ten). In my mind, the Roman system was very obvious. Then I learned to read a little French, and had genuine curiosity about the reasoning behind this soixante-dix-neuf character.
edit: sometimes I wonder if arithmetic arose simply from naming numbers
- mckn1ght 3y agoYeah, the 90s in french always tripped me out. 91 = quatre-vingt-onze = four-twenty-eleven
- nescioquid 3y agoI never can decide, but I think you have made the correct point. For me, it was "four twenties, nine and ten", which was only funny because one said "sixty, nine and ten". I dunno, I love it and it terrifies me. The first time I went abroad, I was in a wine caveau and paying the teller. When she said the price, my mind went blank -- pitch black. She said "five" impatiently in every language I spoke -- even latin -- and I kept wondering, yes, but what and five?
- gerikson 3y agoTry learning to count in Danish.
- kettro 3y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigesimal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigesimal
- rocqua 3y agoFrench used to have a sort of base 20 numbering system. And it is more like our current number system arose because it makes arithmetic so much simpler.
- usr1106 3y agoLike the British used to have shillings?