Comparative Finger counting

1: ngumbaay 2. bula

1: emoko 2: ife

3. bula ngumbaay 4. bungu, bula bula 5: marra

3: isato 4: inei 5: itano 6. marra ngumbaay 6: botoa 7. marra bula 7: nsambo 8. marra bula ngumbaay 8: moambi 9. marra bungu 9: liboa 10. marra marra, dyinang 10: ju(mi)

The numbers are quite different in the different languages: Wiradjuri in Australia and Lomongo in Congo. No similarities can be found. However, there is another manner of counting: the counting on fingers without speaking the number you want to communicate. The audience has to figure out what you want to say. It may be a sort of politeness: you presume that the person addressed is clever enough to count himself. The speaker will not tell you the number, but will indicate the number with his fingers and his hands. The person addressed has to speak out loud the number indicated.

Turn the back of your hands towards the audience and make fists and raise the following fingers:

number one: the index finger of the right hand. number two: index + middle finger of the right hand, number three: little finger, ring finger and middle finger of the right hand, number four: index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger with the thumb in between the ring finger and the middle finger. number five: the fist of the right hand. number six: the little fingers, ring fingers and middle fingers of both hands. number seven: one hand indicating four and the other hand indicating three. number eight: both hands indicating four; right hand indicating five, the other hand indicating four. number nine: one hand showing the fist with the other hand having the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger stretched with the thumb in between the ring finger and the middle finger. number ten: both hands indicating five: two closed fists facing and touching each other.

Number 2 is 1+ 1.

Number 4 is 2 + 2. Number 5 the fist of the whole hand. (All 5 fingers.) Number 6 is 3 + 3 Number 8 is 4+ 4. Number 9 is 5 + 4. Number 10 is 5 + 5.

Number 3 is 1 + 2 Number 4 is 2 + 2. Number 6 is 5 + 1. Number 7 is 5 + 2 Number 8 is 5 + 2 + 3. Number 9 Is 5 + 4. Number 10 is 5 + 5.

- 4 is 2 + 2. - 9 is 5 + 4. - 10 is 5 + 5.