Vixrinddyig Number System (Positive Integers)

Note: To see the numerals in the viv script, you must first download and install the font.

The Indzugand and the Arbans have three fingers and a thumb, and both base their numbers on a base 8 (octal) system. The numerals and the number words used by the Indzugand come from two different cultures, hence the different patterns. The numerals were originally based on a visual representation of fingers, with a closed circle (4) showing a closed hand. As typical with alphabets, the symbols became stylized over time.

The numbers are based on a more efficient system of counting, using one hand for 8 instead of two. This allowed people to count to 64 using two hands, instead of just 8. The older names for the numbers, with eight distinct words instead of combined finger names, were replaced with the systematic names below.

Basic numbers and pattern for larger numbers

Very large numbers

The largest named number, 3.9 x 10¹¹⁵ (slightly larger than a googol), consists of 127 consecutive 8s and begins "gwin banu gwinrax uxu gwin banu gwinrax zwaxdrax gwin banu gwinrax uxu gwinrax banu rundig zwaxdrax" (which is 8888 followed by 123 9s). However, numbers above 2999999 (other than i x 10ⁿ₈, where i as a positive integer less than 64) are rarely read aloud in this fashion in practice; instead, numbers are read in pairs. For instance, 24239954 would generally be read as "Ig banu dyax ig banu igdyax bwarax dyaxrund banu dyax."

All content copyright Paul and/or Valerie Hartzer, all rights reserved, except where indicated. Contact Paul Hartzer with comments. This file was last modified on Monday, November 16, 2009.