Uploaded March 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Presented by Stephen Chrisomalis, Wayne State University
In any literate tradition, there are normally two graphic systems one could use to write numbers: written language, used to write numerals out in words, and numerical notation, which uses largely non-phonetic symbols (62, LXII, etc.). While in some traditions, like the Egyptian, numerical notation is overwhelmingly more common, and in others, numerical notation is almost absent, in most, writers have choice among representations - combining number words and numerical notation in a single phrase, or (as in modern checks) both side by side. The question of whether and when to write twelve thousand or 12,000 or 12 thousand was as pertinent in much of the pre-modern world as it is today. In the absence of style guides, how did ancient authors navigate these choices? Here, we investigate the multimodality of numerical expressions in antiquity, including their cognitive and social underpinnings, through a comparative survey of inscriptions and manuscripts with a focus on the Near East. Rather than thinking of the number systems as a part of the history of mathematics, we can reanalyze them as features of texts. In the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, texts that use both words and symbols for writing numbers are abundant, and reflect several distinct strategies and motivations related to bilingualism, clarity, security, conciseness, or playfulness.
Our lectures are free and available to the public thanks to the generous support of our members. To become a member, please visit: bit.ly/2AWGgF7
Presented by Stephen Chrisomalis, Wayne State University
In any literate tradition, there are normally two graphic systems one could use to write numbers: written language, used to write numerals out in words, and numerical notation, which uses largely non-phonetic symbols (62, LXII, etc.). While in some traditions, like the Egyptian, numerical notation is overwhelmingly more common, and in others, numerical notation is almost absent, in most, writers have choice among representations - combining number words and numerical notation in a single phrase, or (as in modern checks) both side by side. The question of whether and when to write twelve thousand or 12,000 or 12 thousand was as pertinent in much of the pre-modern world as it is today. In the absence of style guides, how did ancient authors navigate these choices? Here, we investigate the multimodality of numerical expressions in antiquity, including their cognitive and social underpinnings, through a comparative survey of inscriptions and manuscripts with a focus on the Near East. Rather than thinking of the number systems as a part of the history of mathematics, we can reanalyze them as features of texts. In the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, texts that use both words and symbols for writing numbers are abundant, and reflect several distinct strategies and motivations related to bilingualism, clarity, security, conciseness, or playfulness.
Our lectures are free and available to the public thanks to the generous support of our members. To become a member, please visit: bit.ly/2AWGgF7
