Numbers
Instead of our base 10 system my conlang uses a duodecimal number system (base 12). Such a duodecimal system has some advantages, for example more devisors (1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12) in comparison with base 10 (1, 2, 5 and 10).
Conlang Note: Twelve is a very important and often used number. For example, in my conworld the numbers can be used to sing the tonal scale like "do re mi". But they sing the scale down, from the highest to the lowest. They use the 12 tone-music and consider 'front' vowels as higher than those produced in the 'back'. The same is true for consonants (see Phonology). They also tend to regard approximants as higher sounding than fricatives that are in turn higher than plosives while nasals are the deepest sounding to them.
Basic Numbers
Numbers are root words and therefore express not just the number alone but a the broad concept associated with one.
| 0 | | zero, void, nothing, empty, emptiness, nil |
| 1 | ji | one, singular, singularity |
| 2 | ve | two, dual, duality, pair, both |
| 3 | pa | three, trinity, triad |
| 4 | mo | four, tetrad, quad, foursome |
| 5 | lis | five, quintet |
| 6 | zhel | six, half-a-dozen |
| 7 | do | seven |
| 8 | nur | eight |
| 9 | rem | nine |
| 10 | khan | ten |
| 11 | gor | eleven |
| 12 | aŋ | twelve, dozen |
| |
| 122 = 144 | veŋ | gross, "hundred(s)" |
| 123 = 1,728 | paŋ | great gross, "thousand(s)" |
| 124 = 20,736 | moŋ |
| 125 = 248,832 | liŋ |
| 126 = 2,985,984 | zheŋ | "million(s)", also a synonym for countless |
***
Higher Numbers
Numbers over twelve are formed by the usual rules for compound words.
- copulative: the conjunction and (sa) joins both words together
- determinative: the modifier follows the head
- the highest positions come first
| 16 | aŋsamo | "(one) dozen and four" |
| 48 | aŋmo | "four dozen" |
| 68 | aŋlissanur | "five dozen and eight" |
| 1,412 | veŋremsa'aŋremsanur | "nine gross and nine dozen and eight" |
***
Fractions:
Fractions can be expressed by a genitive structure:
one of three = one third = ji ... pa .
***
Use
Cardinal numbers as modifiers:
[ding] ne'[anzahl] no aŋsamo
Item [P-s-marker]+Number object-marker "(one) dozen and four"
Transl.: 16 Items (literally: Items that number 16 or Items numbering 16)
Cardinal numbers as a sentence:
ne'[anzahl] [ding] no aŋsamo
[P-s-marker]+Number Item object-marker "(one) dozen and four"
Transl.: The Items number 16.
Ordinal numbers as modifiers:
[ding] ne'[position] no aŋsamo
Item [P-s-marker]+Position object-marker "(one) dozen and four"
Transl.: the 16th Item (literally: Item that has the position of 16)
Ordinal numbers as a sentence:
ne'[position] [ding] no aŋsamo
[P-s-marker]+Position Item object-marker "(one) dozen and four"
Transl.: The item is the 16th. (literally: The Item has the position of/is placed 16.)
Attention:
Please note that the use of
ne'aŋsamo would have a different connotation.
It's simpler to explain with a lower number.
ne+(number) no ve - numbering two
ne+(position) no ve - 2nd, positioned second
neve - being two, being a pair, being dual
