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| ``Subtraction in numerals''
by pahio on 2007-09-27 10:15:14 |
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| The numerals in most languages utilize the multiplication and the addition in forming compound numerals, e.g.
"two hundred" = '2 times hundred',
"a thousand and five" = 'thousand plus 5'.
There are also languages using the subtraction in certain numerals.
For example the Finnish words for 8 (kahdeksan) and 9 (yhdeks\"an) have originally meant '10-2' and '10-1', viz. the numerals for 2 and 1 are "kaksi" (stem "kahde-", "kahte-") and "yksi" (stem "yhde-", "yhte-"). So "kahdeksan" has in ancient times meant literally 'there are missing two from ten' and "yhdeks\"an" analogically. The situation is similar in other Finnic languages, as in Mordvin and Mari. |
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