Do all languages in the world use Western numerals (1, 2, 3 etc) to express numerical values?
Good Answers (1)
Jim D
Multilingual websites consultant
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (3), Internationalization and Localization (1)
The simple answer to your question is, "No". Or, "Yes". It depends which exact question you are asking.
Is it the case that all languages in the world use only Western numerals to express numerical values? No. Many languages use multiple number forms, depending on context. In the English language, for example, a numerical value could be expressed with words ("one") in text, Western numerals ("1") in a technical context, or Roman numerals ("i", "I") in lists. Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, and Chinese all have native characters to express numerical values, which are used in some contexts.
Do all languages in the world use Western numerals sometimes, in some contexts, to express numerical values? Yes — mostly, probably. The qualifications are because I hate to make generalisations about human culture; it's so diverse. And, note that languages without written forms probably don't use Western numerals at all.
Is it the case that Western numerals are — in all cultures, in all contexts — the idiomatic, preferred way to express numerical values? No. It's not even true in English (viz "one", "i").
Do all cultures which use Western numerals to express numerical values do so in the same way? No. In particular, the punctuation between the whole and the fractional part of a number, and the grouping of digits, differ by cultures. North America uses "1,234,567.89"; many European cultures use "1.234.567,89"; I've seen Japanese texts that say "123,4567.89". Below are links to a few resources about number formats.
If you were making priority decisions for a software product (that's my background) to expand its market internationally, and that product expresses numerical values using Western numerals in some contexts appropriate in North America, can you plan on never having to use some other system to express numerical values? No. You of course need to look at the cultural requirements of each new market as you go. But I'm confident that over time, some market will require some system other than Western numerals to express numerical values. So I'm confident that sooner or later, you will have to give that software product the ability to express numerical values in a variety of ways (i.e., to internationalise it).
Links:
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Dmitry P
Computer Software Professional
Best Answers in: Certification and Licenses (1), Government Policy (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
I think that even though most cultures are converting to western format for simplicity, lots of cultures still have their traditional numerical symbols.
The two languages that first come to mind are Chinese and Hebrew.
Joy M
building your business system so you can build your business
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I learned that these were Arabic numbers and are referred to in the Arabic languages and Hindu numbers. If that's true, The world uses Eastern numerals.
The Wikipedia article on the Hindu-Arabic numeral system contains relevant information, including a list of symbols.
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Hidezumi I
Writer
Best Answers in: Internationalization and Localization (4), Government Policy (1), Project Management (1)
Dear Linkedin Community and Minna,
We use both Chinese system (一, 二, 三) as well as Western (1, 2, 3). Those are “almost” equivalent but it is easier to use Chinese for large one.
Digit system is bit different. 億is billion and 万 is 10 thousand. Therefore 1milion would be 100万 or 百万. It is bit confusing for me when I speak your language.
Japanese and Korean have two ways to count numbers. One is imported from China and another is original to the cultures.
The Pirahã people are famous for their unique numeric system. They only have one, two and many and “Two” is like “about two” and “One” is “almost one”. You can find articles about their uniqueness. So they would not understand your sytem tought I am not sure your product expansion plan includes a system for them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirah%C3%A3_people
I hope you enjoy my trivias!
Daniel Y
Localizer, Computational Linguist, Ontologist, Rainbow Rider, Six-Gun Fighter
In the Ethio-Semitic languages the western numeral system is used for most purposes with the exception of dates and the numbering of book chapters, sections, verses (though here primarily in religious works) where the Ethiopic (Ge'ez) numeral system will be applied.
