From: squilluncus
Message: 46566
Date: 2006-11-12
--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <G.and.P@...> wrote:
I find it curious that some languages reverse the order at a certain
point in the teens : number +10, then 10+ number (e.g.
French ...seize, dix-sept; Italian ... sedici, diciassette; but
Latin ..sedecim, septindecim, duodeviginti). But that's probably an
uninteresting question...
>
> Peter
>
Note the shift of system appearing after units of four in
many indoeuropean languages:
the -que in quin-que, the possible dual ending in oct-o,
the teens beginning with thirteen, the French and Italian
shift after 16.
Also Russian gen plur from five but two to four with
gen sing.
There seems to have been two systems originally:
one only counting the long fingers, one also including
the thumb.
Many suggestions on the PIE numbers have been discussed
on this board, but none as i recollect on 11 - 19.
Lars