How the way you count reveals where you're from - BBC REEL

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  • Опубліковано 30 вер 2021
  • Humans evolved with 10 digits on our hands, and that's likely the reason we have 10 digits in our number system. Counting on your fingers feels like such a natural and obvious thing to do that you might be surprised by just how differently people do it around the world, and how effective some methods can be.
    Video by Anand Jagatia
    #bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 95

  • @juliaconnell
    @juliaconnell 2 роки тому +54

    WOW - this was mind blowing - yet again something I just take for granted is done differently - waaaay differently - how interesting & intriguing

  • @Pedasus
    @Pedasus 3 місяці тому +6

    I'm Indian and my dad actually taught me the binary method , in which you can count upto 1023 with 10 fingers

  • @chachamaru3153
    @chachamaru3153 2 роки тому +34

    In Japan, we count as shown in this movie. But when we show a number to other person, we show the number just same as "USA" type.

    • @mmcworldbuilding5994
      @mmcworldbuilding5994 11 місяців тому

      same in ireland. when counting we use the european system but when showing numbers we use the north american system

    • @VandarkVideo
      @VandarkVideo 3 місяці тому

      Same in Korea 😊

    • @aspencrest
      @aspencrest 9 днів тому

      Also for the number three? You use USA system with four finger middle finger and ring finger?

    • @aspencrest
      @aspencrest 9 днів тому

      Also for the number three? You use USA system with forefnger middle finger and ring finger? No thumb involved?

  • @J_Lag
    @J_Lag 2 роки тому +22

    Finally!!! A great description about counting system on our hands. I attempted to elaborate this to an archeology professor back then, but I didn't go far, because this is such an oddity to research and I was an undergraduate going for a biology degree so in a way it was pointless. For sure every culture has a counting system unique to them, except globalization has change that these days, but it is still there. Awesome video 😌

  • @sofiagirscher
    @sofiagirscher 9 місяців тому +5

    it’s like in that one scene from inglorious bastards where the nazi solider finds out the other is not german because of the way he counts to three with his fingers

  • @djenebasidibe468
    @djenebasidibe468 2 роки тому +11

    The Chinese version makes so much sense when you take into account how the Chinese numbers are written. Like especially e.g. the eight and nine, but also the ten for instance. They seem to try to be imitating the shape on how it's written.

  • @kyerwhite4177
    @kyerwhite4177 2 роки тому +12

    As a Canadian I start with my thumb when counting

  • @marc-andrechevrette3420
    @marc-andrechevrette3420 2 роки тому +8

    I remember when I was in China, I ordered 7 pieces of food and raised a full hand + 2 fingers on the other hand. The guy in front of me didn't get it at first.....

  • @suzettehenderson9278
    @suzettehenderson9278 2 роки тому +4

    In ASL, numbers are signed with one hand, I wonder if that effects the method of counting?

  • @neodro4831
    @neodro4831 13 днів тому

    This was so fascinating and refreshing!!!!

  • @davevanfunk8917
    @davevanfunk8917 2 місяці тому

    Fascinating!

  • @WillowEverlight
    @WillowEverlight 2 роки тому

    Wow, they were spot on!

  • @klaxxor
    @klaxxor 2 роки тому +3

    I'm from Canada and I start with my thumb and many others do as well.

  • @kimszabo6752
    @kimszabo6752 2 роки тому

    How awesome. It would be awesome to have one in your yard. Or growing at our church. Planted to be blessed and appreciated.

  • @brunorocha8092
    @brunorocha8092 2 роки тому +1

    I count by the fingers sometimes but in a different way than those shown here, I've seen others counting this way too. with semi closed hand my thumb touches all the fingers tips till gets back to thumb doing the thumb up symbol, then after 5 returns back to the beginning only using 1 hand. when you reach 100+ I put 1 finger from my left hand on the table when 200+ I put 2 and so on..

  • @andriusbalukas207
    @andriusbalukas207 2 роки тому +2

    Also, counting on one's finger knuckles for divisions of 12 (great for months, hours, or feet in inches) or 16 (divisions in inches, or hexadecimal counting). 3 knuckles for each finger =12, while 4 knuckles for each finger would = 16.

  • @heins6157
    @heins6157 2 роки тому +5

    In the Inglorious Bastards movie, that was how the fake Nazi was revealed😄😄😄

  • @troyclayton
    @troyclayton 2 роки тому +3

    Decades ago I taught myself to count in binary on my fingers. 10 digits gives a limit of 1023.
    edit: bit I prefer to keep it at 8 digits (like I count that high) so it's analogous to 8 digit binary machine code.

  • @juanmico4085
    @juanmico4085 2 роки тому +2

    I recall my (Spanish) grandma counting the way is described here as in India (lines in each finger).

  • @juliaconnell
    @juliaconnell 2 роки тому +7

    I remember being taught about different 'bases' in school - base 8 or base 12 - (here, from wiki - "The numeral system, or for short, is the base-8 number system, and uses the digits 0 to 7, that is to say 10 represents 8 in decimal and 100 represents 64 in decimal. However, English uses a base-10 number language system" - base 10 is so obvious as a counting system to us as most of us have 10 fingers/thumbs - remember being worried as a kid - all these messages we're sending out into space - or contact in movies etc - does the math translate (like we use pi or prime numbers to make first contact - but aren't these 'mathematical constants' to us based in base 10) - I'm sure people much smarter than me have dealt with this issue & taken it into account - but remember being really worried about this as a kid

    • @eljanrimsa5843
      @eljanrimsa5843 2 роки тому +5

      no need to worry. we send the numerical part of space message in binary system, base 2.

    • @juliaconnell
      @juliaconnell 2 роки тому +1

      @@eljanrimsa5843 awesome, thank you!

  • @TieDef
    @TieDef Місяць тому

    In Japan, in addition to what is shown, people count up to ten on one hand by then uncurling the figures back again.
    But when showing numbers to others they use the American style, except for numbers greater than 5 when the left hand is opened and the right hand has the additional numbers displayed backwards tapped into the palm of the open left. (So for 7 you tap right index and middle fingers face down into your open left hand.)
    The bidders at the fish auctions in Japan also have their own special finger numbering system as well.

  • @JM-to9dk
    @JM-to9dk 2 роки тому +66

    I’m from the UK and we count like USA and Canada. Didn’t know other parts of Europe counted differently until I watched Inglourious Basterds.

  • @fuzuligulmammadli7884
    @fuzuligulmammadli7884 Рік тому +1

    It's impossible for me to show 4 with my thumb open and pinky folded.

  • @poponachtschnecke
    @poponachtschnecke 2 роки тому +2

    TF, in America i start with my right thumb, where the hell did you hear it was an index finger?

  • @MaGioZal
    @MaGioZal 2 роки тому

    Here in Brazil (South America) we show numbers with fingers in the same manner as Americans and Canadians… but when counting, sometimes we use the thumb as a first number of the hand.

  • @mariliaandaluz5238
    @mariliaandaluz5238 8 місяців тому

    My teacher Roxana sometimes started counting first with the thumb and also ending with thumb.

  • @mariliaandaluz5238
    @mariliaandaluz5238 8 місяців тому

    And where do we start counting with the pinky finger? My favorite finger-counting way always was starting with the baby finger of both hands.

  • @crstothard
    @crstothard 7 місяців тому

    I could listen to Ben Kenobi all day, every day!

  • @ivanstayner8818
    @ivanstayner8818 5 місяців тому +1

    My dad is from England. And he starts with his pinky.

  • @letspetpuppies
    @letspetpuppies 2 роки тому

    i thought they were gonna show the tarantino clip

  • @mariliaandaluz5238
    @mariliaandaluz5238 8 місяців тому

    My favorite finger-counting way is the first green hand.

  • @rogeriopenna9014
    @rogeriopenna9014 Місяць тому

    I am skeptical. Each time I count on the fingers I do it differently. There is no pattern.

  • @RRVVWW73
    @RRVVWW73 2 роки тому +4

    According to this I’m from Europe - nope, Canada.

  • @cat_pb
    @cat_pb 2 роки тому

    Me, from 🇵🇹 Portugal starting from my pinky as well~ 🌝

  • @rivertam7827
    @rivertam7827 2 роки тому +2

    I start with my right thumb, I'm a right handed Australian.... 🤷‍♀️

  • @ddddirge
    @ddddirge Рік тому

    I use mixed one, 1-5 like the USA, and 6-9 like the Europe one... So I can use only one hand with that...

  • @nitsudrhodes
    @nitsudrhodes 11 місяців тому

    They didn't even mention all the different methods in sign languages! I like in American Sign Language (ASL) how you can keep counting just with one hand.

  • @ChibiSteak
    @ChibiSteak 3 місяці тому

    4:31 fin.

  • @faceless_simplified
    @faceless_simplified 4 місяці тому

    I’m an American living in Japan. Someone please tell me why i start with my pinkie and put fingers down to count them 😂😂😂😂

  • @mypiang
    @mypiang 2 місяці тому

    how do you even do 4 in european way

  • @clarebebbington9984
    @clarebebbington9984 2 роки тому

    I count all three ways just depends on the day

  • @MrHellelement
    @MrHellelement 2 роки тому +3

    Drei Gläser!

  • @braunarsch
    @braunarsch 2 роки тому +4

    What's with colouring arunachal and Kashmir in white on the Indian map.... y'all really that afraid of China? Lol

  • @juliaconnell
    @juliaconnell 2 роки тому +1

    I learnt this lesson from (In)Glorious B@stards - that different cultures count differently 😉

  • @mariliaandaluz5238
    @mariliaandaluz5238 8 місяців тому

    Hay tres formas: pulgar, índice y meñique.

  • @leonardogentilin335
    @leonardogentilin335 Рік тому

    Why use fingers if you can count mentally?

  • @larrybeeman4394
    @larrybeeman4394 2 роки тому

    The difference with a knife and fork as well as a spoon in a bowl of soup.

  • @professorandrew4837
    @professorandrew4837 2 роки тому +2

    Ancient Romans were built different

  • @Kushagra.j
    @Kushagra.j 2 роки тому +5

    Good video but stop showing the incorrect map of India!

    • @juliaconnell
      @juliaconnell 2 роки тому

      at least you're ON the map - just google MapsWithoutNZ - enough of an issue to have its own dedicated subreddit (constantly updated -) seriously so many example - NZ Herald did top 10* list few years back (both can be googled - I would provide links but youtube tends to view these as spam and deletes it)
      (AND we have a larger land mass than the UK) (United Kingdom is approximately 243,610 sq km, while New Zealand is approximately 268,838 sq km, making New Zealand 10% larger than United Kingdom) - much love from Aotearoa/New Zealand
      * list includes
      an image posted of a British A-level *geography textbook* features a stylised map of the world cut into a leaf. And ironically, considering the subject matter, New Zealand is nowhere to be seen.
      population map at prestigious Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC
      "Education is the most powerful weapon", t-shirt from American university student

    • @mkdobs
      @mkdobs 2 роки тому

      @kushagra
      The Map in this video are very correct, what did you find as mistakes in that map

    • @dhanaraja5320
      @dhanaraja5320 2 роки тому

      @@mkdobs Jammu and Kashmir , Arunachal Pradesh is in India.

    • @sayanmondal8749
      @sayanmondal8749 2 роки тому

      @@mkdobs bruh !! Seriously 🤣 they have even removed West Bengal... WTF 🤣

  • @LordPenguinVR
    @LordPenguinVR 10 місяців тому +1

    I just learned how to count in binary. That is kind of fun.

  • @cutiepetutie77
    @cutiepetutie77 6 місяців тому

    The 4 doing it the German way is impossible like how?!!!

  • @aimanzaman2
    @aimanzaman2 2 місяці тому

    Chinese just liked to invest symbol for everything 3:00

  • @TheLisaBronstein
    @TheLisaBronstein Рік тому

    I'm from Russia and I curl fingers in when counting, but start with the pinky finger. I have no idea if this is a national custom or only I do that😀

    • @lunislunna6983
      @lunislunna6983 Рік тому

      Sou do Brazil conto igual a você amo as músicas russas desde 2001, minha bisavô tinha sobrenome Brauno tem alguém por aí com este sobrenome? Spaciba🤗

    • @NoName-ki4nq
      @NoName-ki4nq 2 місяці тому

      thats so hard to do lol

  • @OnesFan1
    @OnesFan1 2 роки тому

    Indians are another level

  • @mamajojoful
    @mamajojoful 2 роки тому +3

    omg why do I count starting with my right thumb and unfurl them one digit at a time...I'm not normal!

    • @oltedders
      @oltedders 2 роки тому

      I count the same way ending with my left thumb.

  • @sayanmondal8749
    @sayanmondal8749 2 роки тому

    Meanwhile West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh : Am I a joke to you... 🤣

  • @wokenessaplague5387
    @wokenessaplague5387 2 роки тому +8

    We indians also have a better version of counting till 10 then chinese
    After 5 ,6=👍 and with each finger u open it increases till 9 and then a fist becomes 10 and using both hands one can count till 99 where each hand representing one unit place

  • @philinator71
    @philinator71 2 роки тому

    I'm Australian and count the European way according to this video.

    • @rivertam7827
      @rivertam7827 2 роки тому +1

      I start with my right thumb, I was wondering if it's an Australian thing or I'm a freak lol

  • @AlvinLee007
    @AlvinLee007 2 роки тому

    Singapore counts like USA.

  • @jadibo1984
    @jadibo1984 2 роки тому

    I’m Spanish but I count like I’m from “USA”…

  • @Rvj.12
    @Rvj.12 2 роки тому +1

    Nice informative video but indian map is wrong.

  • @oltedders
    @oltedders 2 роки тому

    American. I start with my right thumb, fingers closed then open as I count, and end with my left thumb, starting with palm open, but touching 6, 7, 8 and 9 with the left thumb.

  • @user-he2bo4zg9c
    @user-he2bo4zg9c 11 днів тому

    I heard of a binary 10-dimensional system.

  • @44Mat
    @44Mat 4 місяці тому

    NOPE
    1 = Is a Pinkie
    5=Thumb
    6= 2xThumb
    10= 2xPinkie.

  • @weme11
    @weme11 2 роки тому +1

    I count like the indians way but I am from Bangladesh which is a neighbouring country of India.

  • @Hammer332
    @Hammer332 2 роки тому +1

    Very basic and bizarre error regarding the UK. The ''American'' way of counting is also British.

    • @56independent42
      @56independent42 2 роки тому

      I was born in wales and i use my thumb to start.

    • @schioana
      @schioana 2 роки тому

      My English husband says he counts it the "European" way shown in this video.

    • @christinaslocum8761
      @christinaslocum8761 2 роки тому

      I count from my left thumb. Raised in Bermuda and the UK. Americans count differently.

  • @Ashallmusica
    @Ashallmusica 2 роки тому

    People : Counting only 10 fingers
    Me : Can see 30 Digits, so can count to 30 ( like n One finger, you see three layers now count each layer in each finger ). That's mindset for You.

    • @claraf9507
      @claraf9507 Рік тому

      what about the thumb tho…

  • @pranavkale9372
    @pranavkale9372 2 роки тому +1

    Why would you omit j&k and Arunachal Pradesh from the map of India, what is wrong with y'all?

    • @student1062
      @student1062 2 роки тому

      Pok and cok, i think this might be why they removed it.