Piotr in relation to Glen wrote
> It's a well-known fact that common numeral protosystems (even in
the
> -5 range) are only reconstructable for the subfamilies of Uralic
> and Altaic, and yet you boldly erect a Proto-Steppe reconstruction,
> complete with the decads.
I have great concern with duch reconstructions. OK it is true that
PIE might have been a base 10 culture, but the assumption that all
Nostratics were also base 10 is a huge supposition. Sumerians seem
to
have operated originally on a base 6, that when it came in contact
with the Middle East became a 60 (Hence 60 seconds, 360 degrees etc).
Many cultures work comfortably in a base five counting system, with
higher numbers being "one lot of five, two lots of five" etc. Papua
New Guineans in the highlands use a base 15 body counting system, 5
for each hand and then five more (left elbow, left shoulder, head,
right shoulder and right elbow). Aboriginal Australians count on a
base three.
Hope this helps
Regards
John