Numbers in Aukan
Numbers in Aukan follow a decimal (base-10) system with unique features characteristic of creole languages. Spoken primarily by the Ndyuka people of Suriname, with around 22,000 speakers, Aukan's counting system combines straightforward decimal patterns with specific linguistic structures. Its use of compound forms for numbers above twenty and special words for hundreds and thousands makes it distinct among creoles. The language's counting system reflects both its European influences and local innovations, making numbers in Aukan a fascinating example of linguistic adaptation. Understanding these patterns offers insight into the culture and daily life of the Ndyuka community.
Number system
Aukan uses a decimal (base-10) system, where numbers from 1 to 9 are unique words: wan (1), tu (2), dii (3), fo (4), feifi (5), sigisi (6), seibin (7), aitin (8), neigin (9). Numbers 11 to 19 are formed by 'tin' (ten) plus 'na' (and) plus the unit, e.g., tin na dii (13). Tens are formed by prefixing 'tin' with the digit, e.g., diitenti (30), fotenti (40). Compound numbers like 36 are made by placing the ten, then 'a' (and), then the unit: diitenti a siksi (36). Hundreds are formed by the digit plus 'ondoo' (hundred), e.g., wan ondoo (100), and combined with 'anga' (and) for numbers like 214: tu ondoo anga tin na fo (214). Thousands are formed by the digit plus 'dunsu' (thousand), e.g., wan dunsu (1,000). Large numbers are built sequentially, following these patterns, with no indication of a different base system.
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Counting from 1 to 9
Digits 1 to 9 are unique words: wan (1), tu (2), dii (3), fo (4), feifi (5), sigisi (6), seibin (7), aitin (8), neigin (9). For example, 6 is sigisi, 9 is neigin, and 4 is fo.
Numbers 11 to 19
Formed by 'tin' (ten), 'na' (and), plus the unit. For example, 13 is tin na dii, 15 is tin na feifi, 19 is tin a neigin. Eleven and twelve are special: elufu (11) and twalufu (12).
Tens
Tens are formed by prefixing 'tin' with the digit, except for 10 and 20. For example, 30 is diitenti, 40 is fotenti, 50 is feifitenti, 70 is seibintenti, 80 is aitintenti, 90 is neigintenti.
Compound numbers
Numbers above twenty are formed by placing the ten, then 'a' (and), then the unit. For example, 21 is twenti a wan, 36 is diitenti a siksi, 78 is seibintenti a aitin.
Hundreds
Formed by the digit plus 'ondoo' (hundred). For example, 100 is wan ondoo, 200 is tu ondoo, 300 is dii ondoo. Compound hundreds combine with 'anga' (and): 214 is tu ondoo anga tin na fo.
Thousands
Formed by the digit plus 'dunsu' (thousand). For example, 1,000 is wan dunsu, 2,000 is tu dunsu, 3,000 is dii dunsu. Larger numbers are built by combining these units.
Unique features
The use of 'tin' for ten and its multiples, combined with 'na' for 11-19, shows a regular pattern similar to other decimal systems but with unique creole words like elufu (11) and twalufu (12).
Numbers above twenty are formed by combining the ten with the unit using 'a', e.g., twenti a wan (21), which resembles a vigesimal pattern but is actually decimal.
The formation of hundreds and thousands uses specific words 'ondoo' and 'dunsu' with conjunction 'anga' for compound numbers, unlike in many languages where digits are simply concatenated.
Large numbers like one million are expressed as 'wan miliyun', showing a straightforward adaptation of European numerals into the creole structure.
The Afaka script, a syllabary devised in 1910, is uniquely used for writing Aukan, blending indigenous innovation with European influence.
Cultural context
The Ndyuka people of Suriname, numbering around 22,000, primarily speak Aukan in their daily lives, trade, and cultural practices. Their society values oral tradition, and numbers play a vital role in rituals, storytelling, and trade negotiations. The use of specific words for large numbers like 'wan dunsu' (1000) and 'wan miliyun' (1,000,000) reflects their engagement with both local and external economic systems. Certain numbers, such as 13 or 17, may hold cultural significance, though specific taboos are not well documented. The language's unique counting system exemplifies their resilience and adaptation, blending European numerals with indigenous linguistic features, reinforcing their cultural identity.
Fun facts
The word for 11, elufu, is unique among creoles and may derive from local or European influences, making it a distinctive feature.
Unlike many languages that use base-20 or base-60 systems, Aukan's counting is primarily decimal, but it incorporates compound formations that resemble vigesimal patterns.
The consistent use of 'a' as a connector in compound numbers like 36 (diitenti a siksi) is a linguistic feature that simplifies the formation of numbers above twenty.
Historically, the use of the Afaka script for writing numbers reflects a cultural effort to preserve indigenous literacy and numeracy skills.
Despite its small speaker base, Aukan can count up to one million, demonstrating the language's capacity to adapt European numerals for large numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Aukan?
1 - wan, 2 - tu, 3 - dii, 4 - fo, 5 - feifi, 6 - sigisi, 7 - seibin, 8 - aitin, 9 - neigin, 10 - tin.
What number base does Aukan use?
Aukan uses a decimal (base-10) system, evidenced by the formation of numbers like diitenti (30), fotenti (40), and the pattern of combining tens and units with 'a'.
How do you say 42 in Aukan?
42 is formed as diitenti a siksi (30 plus 12), where diitenti (30) is 'tens' and a siksi (and 6) is the units, following the pattern of combining tens and units.
How do you say 100 in Aukan?
100 is wan ondoo, formed by the digit 'wan' (1) plus 'ondoo' (hundred). Larger hundreds are formed similarly, e.g., tu ondoo (200).
How many people speak Aukan?
Approximately 22,000 people speak Aukan, primarily in Suriname.
Is Aukan related to other languages?
Yes, Aukan is an English-based creole language, part of the creole family that developed from contact between English and local languages in Suriname.
What makes Aukan counting unique?
Its use of specific words for 11-19, the formation of compound numbers with 'a', and the integration of indigenous words like 'ondoo' and 'dunsu' for hundreds and thousands make its counting system distinctive among creoles.
Sources
- Aukan - English dictionary