<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Tibeto-Burmanists,<div><br></div><div>In most languages of Bhutan I have looked at, I have found special forms of the numbers 'one' and 'two' for measurement contexts. For example, Kurtöp 'one' and 'two' are <i>thê</i> and <i>zon</i> unless counting things like containers (<i>bre, phuya, </i>etc.) of grain, points in archery, distance measured by fingers, hands, bodies, etc. In those contexts 'one' and 'two' are <i>bleng</i> and <i>gwâ</i>. I believe a similar system is also in Tibetan as well as in other Bhutanese languages, although the forms do not appear to be cognate (Dzongkha <i>g'ang</i> and <i>d'o, </i>for example)<i>.</i> Although it is not exactly the same sort of system, I am also reminded of the difference between the two Mandarin words for 'two<i>'. (er2</i> and <i>liang3</i>)</div><div><br></div><div>So, my question to you: how widespread is this? Is it just a Tibetan/Bhutan thing or is it more widespread than this?</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Gwen</div></body></html>