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there has to be a linguistic reason for this. I will find it. https://twitter.com/BlairImani/status/1313305773401731072">https://twitter.com/BlairIman...
I blame Latin.
Let me find out why these losers didn& #39;t just call it octem.
Okay wow. So I just remembered why I love etymology.
This is all theory, but here& #39;s a semi-detailed explanation:
This is all theory, but here& #39;s a semi-detailed explanation:
Proto-Indo-European is the language *theorized* to have birthed Indo-European languages like Latin (Romance), Germanic, Greek, etc.
Linguists research historical commonalities between ancient languages to infer what the original (prototype) langue was.
Linguists research historical commonalities between ancient languages to infer what the original (prototype) langue was.
Languages don& #39;t usually start with a cardinal (counting) system. They add these numbers to their vocabulary as needed and they usually hold some sort of cultural / environmental significance.
For example, we go by the decimal system bc we typically have 10 fingers & toes (5 on each).
Na& #39;vi (from Avatar), on the other hand, has an octal system because they have 4 on each.
Na& #39;vi (from Avatar), on the other hand, has an octal system because they have 4 on each.
From what I& #39;ve read, Proto-Indo-European (PIE) didn& #39;t start with numbers and only identified quantity with singular and plural signifiers.
A modern English example would be "(an) apple" vs "apple(s)".
A modern English example would be "(an) apple" vs "apple(s)".
Eventally, they created a word to represent duality (pairs) to refer to things like eyes, ears, hands, etc.
"One" was not yet considered a number because their language system already had a way to denote singularity.
You dont need to say "one" apple if you can already say "an".
"One" was not yet considered a number because their language system already had a way to denote singularity.
You dont need to say "one" apple if you can already say "an".
So in a sense, "two" is believed by many to be the first number.
Then 3, & then 4.
PIE is believed to have been a quartenary language; NOT a decimal language. Which means their counting cycle ended at 4.
Which brings us to the reason for this thread: where tf did 8 come from?
Then 3, & then 4.
PIE is believed to have been a quartenary language; NOT a decimal language. Which means their counting cycle ended at 4.
Which brings us to the reason for this thread: where tf did 8 come from?
