Comments on: Finger-counting across cultures

By: Marc Foster

Marc Foster — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:51:23 +0000

In reply to Mrxavia. Not to be rude, but are you over 60? Over 70? I've never seen a younger person anywhere in the UK start with a thumb count

By: Marc Foster

Marc Foster — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:50:26 +0000

In reply to Ute Limacher. I'd also suggest we have probably finger counted this way before here US did, but that's just a hunch

By: Marc Foster

Marc Foster — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:44:01 +0000

In reply to Ute Limacher. Hi, I am from Northern Ireland. It is completely alien to me to start a count with the thumb. In this region we solely follow the US method of finger counting 1 to 4 and number 5 being thumb. Although I'd understand a thumb and index and middle finger to be 3, it would totally be unnatural to my part of the world. You may want to highlight it as it is misleading to suggest we follow the German way.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:17:42 +0000

In Spain we make the horn or bull gesture lifting the thumb and the pinky finger at the same time. That’s pretty common and cultural.

By: Halit Tan

Halit Tan — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 11:44:51 +0000

Turkish totally mix between Italians and German
We start 1 with index finger than middle finger add it make 2 than 3 with thumbs ,4 make it close thumbs open pinky and 5 sleeping to
Face

By: Ute Limacher

Ute Limacher — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:28:18 +0000

In reply to Richard. Thank you, Richard, for your insights about how to count with fingers. Do you have some further references to what you say about the 2 fingers Agincourt (articles etc.)? I'd like to know more about this misunderstanding, when it started and why, and what is behind this sign.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:42:47 +0000

I’m a 52 year old Scot. When counting on fingers, Brits will use either thumb or forefinger first. However when indicating a figure, Brits will almost always use their fingers. So ‘1’ is forefinger, counting 1 could be thumb or forefinger.
As to indicating ‘3’ the 3 fingers with thumb and pinky secured to each other is VERY British especially for those of my generation and older. In Major Archie’s day it was the way ‘3’ was indicated across the Empire and remains common across the Anglosphere. This is because the three finger position is the hand position for the Scout and Guide Association salute. In the past when membership was far more common with kids than it is now, this hand position became universal.
Immigration and cultural mixing over the last 30 years has introduced the thumb indicator for 3 in the UK.

Lastly, the 2 fingers Agincourt is a myth (it’s amazing how many such myths are promulgated by the Oxford publications, they also claim, wrongly ,that Scipio salted the fields of Carthage). A warbow of the longbow type cannot be shot with 2 fingers, it is too powerful. The origin of the two fingers as an offensive gesture is probably linked to indicating a vulva. This gesture is seen in medaevil gargoyles of the Sheela na Gig type, where a hideous woman is carved with an exaggerated vulva.
Anyway, gascinating subject and thanks for writing the article.
Richard (MA Archaeology, medaevil British History, the languages of the British Isles)

By: Ute Limacher

Ute Limacher — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:56:57 +0000

In reply to Jan. Thank you for this comment! Indeed, I also learned to count the months with 31/30 days this way! I remember that we also did it in Italian. Let me ask in my fb groups and I'll get back to you ;-)

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:58:17 +0000

Hey,
I really liked your article.
Just an interesting side fact:
In Germany I was taught to use my knuckles for counting the months with 31 days.
You start at the knuckle of your left small finger and follow with the space in between the knuckles to the right and then with the knuckle of the ring finger and so on.
The knuckles mean 31 days and the spaces inbetween less.
You end up with January 31, February 28(/29), March 31 etc.
When you reach the knuckle of your left index finger you should be at July 31 days and jump to the knuckle of your right index finger indicating, that August has 31 days aswell and continue from there as normal.
I am curious to know, if this was also taught in other European countries, since I never knew anyone that used it.
Have a good one 🙂

By: What is your maths language? - Ute's International Lounge & Academy

What is your maths language? - Ute's International Lounge & Academy — Mon, 08 May 2023 08:38:49 +0000

[…] Many of them don’t see it as a problem, which, in fact, it is not. But when I show them the different ways to count and explain to them that the way to do simple equations can differ considerably, and that they may […]