One of the important elements of any language is the counting system. It strongly depends on how the state in which this language and french to english is used developed. And France is no exception in this respect. Numerals are one of the most difficult topics offered by French courses in Minsk.
Custom 70, 80 and 90
Once upon a time, the Gallic tribes lived on its territory. They left behind not only various archaeological sites, but also a specific number system. As a base, it used not the usual ten, but 20. In other words, not only the fingers of the hands, but also the toes were used.
As a result, instead of the usual “seventy”, the French say (if translated literally) “sixty and ten.” The same is true for other numbers. For example, instead of eighty (that is, 8 tens), this system uses the “four times twenty” construction. As you might guess, to designate the next round number, ninety, you have to connect ten and four twenty. But 100 is already called habitually – cent, and not “five twenty” at all.
However, for 70, 80 and 90 there are also simpler variants of the name, which are obtained in the usual way – as an indication of the number of tens. In France itself, they are not common, while outside of it (in Switzerland and Belgium) they are actively used.
Where else is such an account used?
The situation is similar with the naming of a large number of dozens in other languages - both in Europe and around the world. In particular, Irish and Scots also use 20 as a base. The Danes, when indicating a number from 50 to 99, also use similar constructions. In the Basque language and english to french, this approach is applied in general to all numbers within a hundred.
Many inhabitants of the Caucasus perceive the vigesimal system quite naturally, since it has become entrenched in their languages. Georgians, Adyghes, Dagestanis, Avars, Ingush – this is just a short list of such peoples.
Asia, Africa and America did not stand aside either. Nigerian, Santali (one of the Indian languages), and even the famous Mayan calendar are all examples that prove the convenience of counting in twenties.