4 Finger-Counting Techniques 🌎✋

The way cultures count on their fingers can provide insight into the values and practices of a particular society. Dactylonomy, or finger counting, is not just a practical skill, but also reflects cultural norms around numeracy and communication. For example, some cultures use only one hand to count, while others use both. This could be linked to how important individualism versus collectivism is in that culture.

In China, people traditionally use one hand to count up to 10, with each finger representing a number from 1 to 10.

In many Arabic-speaking countries, people count up to 19 using only one hand, with each finger representing a number from 1 to 5 and combinations of fingers representing higher numbers.

In Japan, people use a combination of hand gestures and spoken numbers to count, with each finger representing a number from 1 to 10.

Some Native American cultures use a base-8 counting system, with each hand representing a set of numbers from 1 to 8 and the fingers representing individual numbers within that set.

In parts of West Africa, people use a base-12 counting system, with each hand representing a set of numbers from 1 to 6 and the fingers representing individual numbers within that set.

[DazzlingCultures]

Thank you for this excellent video, and for referencing my book "When Languages Die", about different counting systems.

[fourleafclover]

I would have never have thought of counting the negative space.

This is so fascinating

[zachnerdydude]

*programmers with the ability to count to 1023 using two hands*
"I have no such weakness"

[ChaosGamer]

Born in America always have lived here I start counting on my thumb.

[sleepyppl]

sign language counts up to infinity on one hand

[JayLiszte]

Inglorious bastards was the first film where I realized that other cultures count differently

[Karzakus]

The 12 counting system is highkey the best one because it lets you use one hand to keep track of how many sets of 12 you have. With normal finger counting once you get past 10 it's hard to continue using the fingers as a counter

[kiandadfarian]

As a Middle Eastern from Iran, I can inform you that we also start counting from the index finger.
The writing does go from right to left but the numbers are written from left to right.

[DergyDauog]

Ngl counting the bones of the fingers with your thumb is a genius way to count

[ignorasmus]

Growing up in India, I leart from my mom to count up to 16 on each set of 4 fingers - 3 fold lines on each finger as well as the finger tips.

[rachelmayes]

Recently had a Japanese person tell me Japanese counting can go up to 20 on the fingers - after you count to ten, you put the fingers back down to continue counting!

[DragonMan]

This video actually inspired me to come up with my own little system that can go up to 225 by counting on your hands. Essentially, you count each bone including your thumb on one hand. The other hand keeps track of how many times you've hit 15, with each knuckle being a multiple of 15. 15 × 15 is 225, so there you are.

To clarify a bit better of how it works:

Use your index finger to start on the first bone in your thumb, as long as both are on the same hand. When you are on the last bone, use your thumb to transition and start counting like how it was shown in the video. When you get to 15, reset the first hand and count one repetition on the second hand. There you are.

[LopsideMakes]

I'm definitely using that base 12 counting from now on..

[lillianamer]

i’m middle eastern gen z and i’ve always wondered why our grandparents/elders count starting from their pinky while the younger generation counts starting from our thumb/index. such a cool way to see globalization and the mixing of cultures

[ferdikeune]

You forgot the mathematicians who count to 31 with one hand.

[AkanshaKumari-eekd]

As an Indian, i do use the Base 12 method. Especially useful for counting 108 chants at night or morning (for me)

[magicalboymlm]

a method i've always found useful is counting in binary, since you can go up to 1023 on your fingers alone, which is more than enough for any situation where you have to count on your fingers, and even one hand can get up to 31, which is a lot more than most counting systems

[thebronzehexagon]

As a South Indian, my dad taught me the Base-12 method to count to 108, as that is an important number in some Hindu beliefs.

[n_-_-]

Fun fact. In Inglorious Basterds, Fassbender's character was given away by his finger count for "3". He didnt do it the German way.

[AquaSventi]

All my fellow Muslims unite✊🏻😂 We use the base 12 system for "Tasbeeh" at the end of each of our prayers. We recite these 3 words "SubhanAllah", "Alhumdulillah" and "AllahuAkbar" a specific no. of times after each prayer and this just makes it easier.