LL-L "Numerals" 2005.02.15 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 15.FEB.2005 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West) Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Arthur Jones <arthurobin2002 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Lowlands-L "Numerals" 2005.02.14


Dear Ron, James, Domhnall, Mark & Co.:

The discussion regarding decimal and vigesimal numerals got so logical and
informative that I decided to intervene as the house dilletante.

Amongst Germanic languages, just next door or up the Jutish coast, the Danes
use a partial vigesimalism, giving us "halvtreds" for fifty (half of three
twenties), "tres" for sixty, "halvfjerds" for seventy, "firs" (short for 4 x
20) for eighty, and "halvfems" (one-half of 5 x 20: not a designation of
indeterminate or ambiguous gender!).

My guess is that the ancient Danes simply got used to counting their fingers
and toes frequently, i.e., after each battle, to determine whether they
would call in sick for the following day's work, being bloodletting. The
reference back to the original 20 digits they started out with ("legacy" to
the U.S. military) seemed natural.

I would add that the Welsh system as outlined by Ron, James, Domhnall, Mark
et al. may go some way toward explaining why the Sassenachs have an aversion
to Welsh accountants  ;-).

Arthur

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