Numbers in Ladin
Numbers in Ladin follow a mixed decimal and vigesimal system, reflecting its historical development. Spoken primarily in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy, Ladin has around 30,000 speakers. Its counting system combines unique words for 1-10, with compound formations for larger numbers. The language’s structure reveals a fascinating blend of decimal and vigesimal elements, especially in how it constructs numbers like 42 or 78. Understanding the numbers in Ladin offers insight into its cultural heritage and linguistic evolution, making it a captivating subject for language enthusiasts and scholars alike.
Number system
Ladin’s counting system is primarily vigesimal, where numbers above twenty are formed by combining the tens with units, often using the conjunction 'e' (and). For example, 21 is 'vintun' (vint + un), where the last vowel of 'vint' is dropped. Numbers from 11 to 16 are formed by adding 'desc' to the root (e.g., 11 is 'undesc', 12 is 'dodesc'). For 17-19, the unit follows the ten directly: 17 is 'dejesset', 18 is 'dejedot', 19 is 'dejenuef'. Tens like 30 ('trenta') and 40 ('caranta') are specific words, with compound numbers like 34 ('trentecater') formed by combining 'trenta' and 'cater'. Hundreds are formed by prefixing 'cent' with the multiplier (e.g., 200 is 'doicent'), and thousands by prefixing the multiplier with 'mile' (e.g., 2,000 is 'doimile'). Large numbers like one million ('un milion') and billion ('un miliard') follow similar patterns, with no special base change.
Number list (29)
Counting rules
Numbers from zero to ten
Numbers 0-10 are unique words: zero, un, doi, trei, cater, cinch, sies, set, ot, nuef, diesc. For example, 1 is 'un', 4 is 'cater', and 10 is 'diesc'.
Numbers eleven to sixteen
Formed by adding 'desc' to the root: 11 is 'undesc', 12 is 'dodesc', 13 is 'tredesc', 14 is 'catordesc', 15 is 'chindesc', 16 is 'seidesc'.
Numbers seventeen to nineteen
Constructed by placing the unit after ten: 17 is 'dejesset', 18 is 'dejedot', 19 is 'dejenuef'.
Tens
Specific words for multiples of ten: 10 is 'diesc', 20 is 'vint', 30 is 'trenta', 40 is 'caranta', 50 is 'cincanta', 60 is 'sessanta', 70 is 'setanta', 80 is 'otanta', 90 is 'nonanta'.
Compound numbers above twenty
Formed by combining the ten and unit with 'e' (and), dropping the last vowel of the ten: 21 is 'vintun', 22 is 'vintedoi', 34 is 'trentecater', 48 is 'carantot'. For example, 78 is 'setantaeot' (70 + 8).
Hundreds
Formed by prefixing 'cent' with the multiplier digit: 100 is 'cent', 200 is 'doicent', 300 is 'treicent', 400 is 'catercent'. Numbers like 109 are 'centenuef', combining 'cent' and 'nuef' with 'e'.
Thousands
Constructed by prefixing the digit with 'mile': 1,000 is 'mile', 2,000 is 'doimile', 3,000 is 'treimile'. Larger numbers link scales with 'e', e.g., 1,110 is 'milecentediesc'.
Unique features
The use of 'desc' for 11-16 and the reversal pattern for 17-19 (dejesset, dejedot, dejenuef).
Compound numbers like 42 ('vintetrenta') and 78 ('setantaeot') drop vowels for phonetic ease, showing vigesimal influence.
Large numbers like one million ('un milion') and billion ('un miliard') are formed with simple prefixes, unlike many European languages.
The conjunction 'e' links hundreds, tens, and units without spaces, e.g., 'doicentetrenta' (230).
The language borrows the word 'mile' for thousand, reflecting historical trade influences.
Cultural context
Ladin is spoken mainly in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy, in regions like Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Veneto. Its speakers, around 30,000, maintain a rich cultural heritage rooted in mountain traditions, alpine agriculture, and local festivals. Numbers in Ladin appear in daily life, traditional crafts, and local markets. While no specific taboo numbers are noted, the language's unique counting reflects a blend of Roman and pre-Roman influences, emphasizing community identity. Celebrations often involve traditional songs and stories that incorporate counting, especially in folk dances and storytelling, preserving their linguistic heritage amid modern influences.
Fun facts
Fact 1: The number 17 is 'dejesset', illustrating the reversal pattern for 17-19, unlike the straightforward pattern in many Romance languages.
Fact 2: Compared to Italian, which uses 'quattordici' for 14, Ladin uses 'catordesc', showing a different formation pattern with roots and suffixes.
Fact 3: The dropping of vowels in compound numbers like 'vintun' demonstrates phonetic simplification typical of vigesimal systems.
Fact 4: Historically, the word 'mile' for thousand reflects medieval trade routes and cultural exchanges in the Alps.
Fact 5: Large numbers like 'un miliard' (billion) are formed simply, unlike in English or French, which often have more complex terms.
Frequently asked questions
How do you count to 10 in Ladin?
1 - un, 2 - doi, 3 - trei, 4 - cater, 5 - cinch, 6 - sies, 7 - set, 8 - ot, 9 - nuef, 10 - diesc.
What number base does Ladin use?
Ladin primarily uses a vigesimal (base-20) system, evident in words like 'vint' for 20 and compound formations like 'vintun' for 21, as well as the pattern of combining tens and units with 'e'.
How do you say 42 in Ladin?
42 is 'trentecater'—'trenta' (30) plus 'cater' (4), combined with vowel dropping and the 'e' connector, following the vigesimal pattern.
How do you say 100 in Ladin?
100 is 'cent'. Larger hundreds are formed by prefixing 'cent' with the multiplier, e.g., 200 is 'doicent'.
How many people speak Ladin?
Approximately 30,000 people speak Ladin, mainly in northern Italy's Dolomite regions.
Is Ladin related to other languages?
Yes, Ladin is a Romance language within the Indo-European family, related to Italian, Friulian, and Romansh, sharing common Latin roots.
What makes Ladin counting unique?
Its use of vigesimal patterns, especially in compound numbers like 78 ('setantaeot'), and the reversal pattern in 17-19, make its counting system distinctive among Romance languages.
Sources
- Gramatica dl Ladin Standard (.pdf, in Ladin)