Arabic Numerals Are The Most Popular Language of All Time
Even though they are a ”partial script,” only covering a limited range of information, they’re by far the most common language. You could call these “Arabic Numerals” the true language of mankind, as math governs so much of our lives…
It’s interesting to ponder. Those numerals, the 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 didn’t have to be so universal. Think about how diverse our spoken languages are, and the written equivalents…
Yet we all use these symbols to refer to numbers.
That seems important. I can communicate “One Hundred Apples” to you by showing you the number 100 and a picture of an apple. Without the number, it’s very hard to communicate the concept of specifically 100 apples. Even if I put an image up of 100 apples, you’d have to count them all. You would assume I mean “a lot of apples,” but not a specific amount. Whereas with 100 🍎 its clear as day.
Who knows why numerals are so universal across the world. It could be that they’re just so damned useful that they infected all of mankind much like the internet has done to us today.
It’s fun to think about. I have a new reverence for numerals, those simple squiggles that made modern civilization possible.
I just learnt through your post that the numbers we use everyday are called Arabic numberals in the western world. Having grown up in a culture that takes collective pride in anything that originated from the land, we've always been taught that the modern day numerals were invented in India.
Especially the zero. The zero was a game changer. Without the zero, our numerical system is limited. Our schools drilled into our heads a sense of (undeserved) pride that it was our ancestors who were responsible for this (contended by some, accepted by others). Displaced pride apart, it's true that the zero made it possible for us to understand basic mathematic calculations better. Algebra, calculus, or the works of Fibonacci. Without the zero, we wouldn't have a binary code. So if I had to pick a champion number amongst the numericals - it would be zero.
The invention of zero is an amazing contribution to humanity. It is hard to imagine that once upon a time, people did not have a word for "zero..." I'm thankful to whomever invented it! Cheers @manouche
Your post and this discussion about the zero played an important part in my new post!
If you want to check it, here's the link.
Great article.Numerals are really important and quick in passing a message- I too never realized this. This world begins with 0 and ends with 9- everything in between is a combination of 0 to 9 :)
Thanks @practicaleric :-)