Different number systems in different language
Having learned English and French for some time, I find it interesting to count numbers in different ways. Both the number systems of English and French are different from my mother tongue.
French get 80 by doubling 40, and 90 by doubling 40 plus 10. How complex the French number system is !
Many Chinese learners of English, especially beginner levels could not get used to the numbers system in English. What they usually do is translating the numbers into their own system. For example, if one hears the number 10thousand, he/she would more often than not rush to translate it by asking himself/herself how much is 10thousand? Oh it's 1万 I got it. It always takes them a long while to get an idea of how large the number is in English, especially large numbers above hundred.
I once had difficulty with number in English, but as the chances to expose in English numbers increased, I found there is no need to translate the numbers at all. English tells the numbers in such clear way. Count every three digits and give every three a name say, thousand, million, billion and trillion. Very easy to memorize and count, so why not get your mind accustomed to that way.
If you compare the English number system and Chinese one, then you will know how different they are and why it's not easy for either side to be used to the other way.
Chinese like to count large numbers by every four digits.
Let's see some examples of the Chinese number system:
1万 = 1, 0000
1百万= 100, 0000
1千万 = 1000, 0000
1亿= 1, 0000, 0000
So now you see the obvious difference.
Learning a different language means learning a different way of thinking, and so it is with numbers. How interesting it it! Don't you think so?
I am waiting for you to share the number system of your mother tongue or any other language you know !
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 9
0
I have no problem in growing up with both Chinese and English. To me they are exactly the same with the exception of the ten thousand unit. I even hear the older generation uses 十千 for 萬.
Even in English, the British million and the US million, billion, trillion differs by 3 digits!
0
Thanks you Luis. Yeah it's quatre-vingt. I made a big mistake. I've put aside French for long so my memory serves me wrongly.
What about numbers in Spanish?
0
www.rttnews.com
On the right side of the page, you will see many audio recordings. Download one and try to listen to it and retell the story.
0
@Melaminefree, sorry try what ? And retell which story ?
Yeah, that's quite right we speak English as a second language and that's the exact reason why we have to get ourselves used to another way of thinking, if not successful at least try to be.
No native speaker is born to be a master of his/her mother tongue. Almost all the progress we make in our first language can be guaranteed by practice. The basic truth is that one gets more practice in an immersion environment, which is what we usually call 'exposure to the language'. More exposure guarantees more progress.
Everyone has one mind for thinking and often tend to rely on the only way. But, to some degree, this commitment heavily slows down our progress in a foreigner language learning. We are so much good at thinking in our first language so we don't want to step out our comfort zone.
So here I am just trying to provide another perspective to think about the difference of different language.
0
Xiaolei, as we speak English as a second language, understanding numbers in English is not as easy as we think it is. Try it, and try to retell the story and check how many numbers are successfully understood.
Want to progress faster?
Join this learning community and try out free exercises!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
