DIE SPRACHE - Zeitschrift fur Sprachwissenschaft, 39 (1997) 2

1m Auftrag der Wiener Sprachgesellschaft herausgegeben von Heiner Eichner

unter Mitwirkung von Hans Christian Luschutzky, Robert Nedoma, Oskar
E. Pfeiffer, Klaus T. Schmidt, Chlodwig H. Werba und unter redaktioneller Mitar­
beit von Melanie Malzahn. D. REZENSIONEN
Anschrift: Institut fur Sprachwissenschaft der Universitat Wien, Luegerring 1,
A-lOW Wien, Osterreich Vaclav B I a z e k : Numerals. Comparative-etymological analyses of numeral
systems and their implications.Brno, Masarykova univerzita, 1999, 339 p.,
paperback (ISBN 80-210-2070-9).

Inhalt The present monograph collects nineteen essays on the numerical systems
A. Aufsatzs of several African and Eurasian languages; most of these essays have already
I. Balles, Reduktionsformen in langen Wortformen als Ursprung mor­ been published as separate studies in various journals of linguistics. The articles
phologischer Doppelformen 141 have been gathered in the present book which serves as the author's 'Ha­
R. N edoma, Die althochdeutsche Fassung des Ersten Bcseler Rezepts 168
bilitationsschrift' at Brno university. B.divides his subject into three parts: A. Non­
B. Kurzaufsatzo Indo-European numeral systems (viz. the Saharan numerals, the Nubian numerals,
D. Schurr, Lydisches IV: Zur Grammatik der Inschrift Nr. 22 . . . .. 201 the Egyptian numerals, the Berber numerals, the Kartvelian numerals, the Uralic
D. Stifter, Celtiberian -unei, Luguei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 213

numerals, and the Altaic numerals, p. 1-140), B. the Indo-European numerals (p.
C. Rezensionsaufsatz 141-324), and C. Patterns of creating numerals (p. 325-337). The Indo-European
Kritische Bemerkungen zu den Editionen der Tocharischen Sprachreste family thus forms the central part of the book, and its numerals are discussed in
(K.T.Schmidt) 224 separate subchapters dealing with 'I', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '10', '100' and
D. Rezensionen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., .. 239 '1000'.
Register zu Band 39 (H. D. Pohl) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 247 After every chapter and subchapter of the book, we find a separate
bibliography of the works cited in that chapter. Since many of the works cited are
mentioned in more than one (sub)chapter, the book could have numbered a few
pages less if all the references had simply been given once, at the beginning or at
the end of the book. The present repetition of references is probably due to the
fact that many of these (sub)chapters have appeared in print before, and the reader
Aile redaktionelle Korrespondenz, Manuskripte und Bucher sind an den Heraus­
cannot help but get the impression that the separate essays have been lumped
geber (Anschrift wie oben) zu richten. Fur unverlangt eingesandte Bucher kann
together without much of a final redaction. This impression is strengthened by
weder eine Besprechung noch Rucksendung garantiert werden.
the lack of any introduction to the subject of numerals. The two-pages introduction
Die Aufnahme von Repliken und personlichen Erklarungen wird prinzipiell abge­
(p. III-IV)which precedes the 'contents' does not discuss the history of scholarship
lehnt; die Mitarbeiter sind ihrerseits zu einer streng sachlichen Formulierung
in this field, nor does it give a satisfactory outline of the premises on which B.
angehalten.

bases his analyses of the numerals. For instance, it appears from his discussion at
Autoren erhalten fur Aufsatzs 25, fur Rezensionen 10, fur kleine Anzeigen 5 Son­
various points that B.adheres to the Nostratic theory, but this is not made explicit
derdrucke.

in the Introduction. Another point in question are the typological observations

Gedruckt mit Unterstutzung des Bundesministeriums fur Wissenschaft und Ver­
which we can make when comparing the different ways in which the world's
kehr, Wien.
languages form their numerals. Throughout the book, B. mainly relies on two
(well-attested) ways to form numerals, viz. the derivation from body parts, and
© Wiener Sprachgesellschaft, Wien 1997 the derivation from other numerals by means of simple arithmetic operations.
Die Zeitschrift und aile in ihr enthaltenen Beitrage und Abbildungen sind ur­ Nobody will deny that these are the two most important origins of numerals
heberrechtlich geschutzt. Jede Verwertung auBerhalb der engen Grenzen des cross-linguistically, but B. becomes explicit about them only in his very final
Urheberrechtsgesetzes bedarf der Zustimmung der Wiener Sprachgesellschaft. chapter (see below); especially for students of Indo-European languages, where
Das gilt insbesondere fur Vervielfaltigungen jeder Art, Ubersetzungen, Mikro­ numerals have a notoriously unclear etymology, this would have been a welcome
verfilmungen und fur die Einspeicherung in elektronische Systeme. theme for an introductory chapter.
Gesamtherstellung: AZ Druck und Datentechnik GmbH, Kempten. B.expresses the following two targets of his study (p. III-IV):"(a) to apply
Gedruckt auf alterungsbestandigem Papier the methods of comparative-historical linguistics to the etymological analysis of
Printed in Germany
Die Sprache 39/2 (1997), 239-245
ISSN 0376-401X
 240 Rezensionen Rezensionen 241

numeral systems in selected language families; (b) to formulate some general rules For '8' (p. 269),B.relies on Henning's interpretation (1942: 235)of Av. a~ti-as 'the
of creation of numerals in confrontation with the 'transparent' numeral systems." breadth of four fingers' (which he derived from PIE *h2ok- 'pointed') and his
What is behind this second aim only becomes clear when we read the final chapter subsequent derivation of PIE *h2oktoh j as the dual of the PIE preform of Av. a~ti­
calIed 'Patterns of creating numerals', which provides a short overview of different (Henning 1948). Yet the meaning 'breadth of four fingers' is not secured for Av.
counting systems which exist in the world's languages. B. concludes this chapter esti-. The form only occurs in the compound esti.msseb- 'as large as an a~tf, which
with the observation (p. 336) that "the primary semantic motivation of numerals the Pahlavr translation of NIrangestan 66 and VIdevdad 13.30 does not specify
was based on body part names." This implies the counting of 1,2, 3, etc. by means any further, and in uz-ssti- 'breadth of eight fingers' (Frahang-i otm 734). The
of fingers etc., as can be observed in different languages all over the world. B. latter form appears in an enumeration of length measures: F 731ptIoam '16 fingers'
proceeds with the assumption that "the higher numerals originate by means of (as per Henning 1942: 236, footnote 2), F 732 vitesti '12 fingers', F 733 disti '10
elementary arithmetic operations combining them." This is another well-attested fingers', F 734 uzesti '8 fingers'. Since vitssti and disti represent regular verbal
formation type of numerals, as in Latin duodevtginti'lb', undevrginti'19', vtgintt abstracts in *-ti- from the respective PIEroots "tens- 'to stretch' and *deik- 'to show',
'20', literally 'two-from-twenty', 'one-from-twenty', 'twenty'. uz-esti- may well contain a derivative *h2{1k-ti- to the root *h;zIIek- 'to reach',
It is obviously B.'s main aim to show that the Indo-European numerals corresponding to Skt. a$p- f. 'reaching'. The semantic motivation is obvious: vitssti­
have also been formed by the two processes mentioned, viz. the use of body part is the space between a stretched out thumb and little finger, disti- are the ten
names to start counting, and application of arithmetics to derive other numerals fingers which we use for indicating, and we can accordingly translate a~ti- as
from the former. For the numerals 4-6 and 8-10 (7' is regarded as a loan from 'stretching', which is the position of (twice) the four fingers of a hand without the
Semitic), B. offers the following etymologies: '4' *k~etyor'set of fingers' or *k~et-l). thumb. Av. uz-ssti- can be interpreted in two ways: either with uz- 'out, up' as
'span', derived from *k~et- 'to stretch'; '5' *penk~e 'keeps (hand in fist ?)' from a" 'stretching upwards' (d. KIingenschmitt 1968: 239 "die Handspitzen nach oben
verbal root *penk~- 'to handle' or 'to gather'; '6' * KSl).eks (K indicating an habend"), or with uz- 'beyond' as 'more than an a~tl (d. Henning 1942:235"super­
unspecifiable velar) < *g"s-l).eks from * g"es-'hand' + *l).eks- 'grow' = 'overgrowing a~ti'), as in us-aya- 'very bad' to aya- 'bad'. The latter interpretation would save
hand'; '8' *h2okto-h j 'set of points' (= dual of 'fingers or knuckles of hand'); '9' Hennings translation of a~ti- as 'the breadth of four fingers', which he posits on
*hjnel) adv., orig. ace. 'in lack'; '10' *dekIp & *dektadv., orig. ace. 'in the end' & comparison of the Avestan measures with the ancient Greek measures. Within
participle 'reaching'. We can see that not only body parts and arithmetics are the Avestan system of length measures, the connection of a~ti- with Skt. a$p- seems
involved. to me far more plausible than the unspecified connection with the PIE root for
In itself, the idea that the PIE numerals, which lack an etymology, can or 'pointed' which Henning suggests. 'The breadth of four fingers' is then Simply
must be explained from general numerical formation patterns is nothing new. 'the stretching of the four fingers of a hand'. These considerations remove alI
Yet the lack of agreement which has hitherto existed on this subject is not indications that the root *h2ok- 'pointed' supplied a word for 'four', of which
accidental: it is simply very difficult to find an internal IE etymology for those Henning 1948 and B. suggest that it provided the basis for the derivation of
numerals, and the suggested connections with non-Indo-European languages alI *h2oktoh j '8'.
suffer from phonological deficiencies. In order to fit the IE numerals into their Leaving aside the criticism on details, B.'s book shows the merit of
supposed etymological motivation, it seems to me that B. stretches the evidence bringing together an enormous amount of evidence on numerals, their relations
too far in more than one case. Although he has diligently gathered the many and developments in many languages. These data, rather than suggesting
previous analyses of IE numerals from the literature, and follows the authority of unwarranted reconstructions, inspire one to ponder about the different possibilities
previous scholars rather than coming up with many new interpretations, B.'sown that languages have with numerals, and how the different numeral systems came
conclusions are often open to great doubts. As for '5', a verbal root *penk~- is about. It must be regretted that B.does not elaborate more on this theme, which
simply unattested in Indo-European. Of course, "penkie '5' could theoreticalIy be apparently was his main interest (p. 336 "The creation of numerals confirms more
a remnant of an otherwise lost root *penk~-, but we simply cannot prove it. The than any other human activity that man is a measure of himself.") B. has some
suggested connection with Hittite psnku- 'total; community' is impaired by very interesting remarks about the distribution of the vigesimal counting system
expected development of PIE <enk- to Hit. -ink- (Melchert 1994: 139), which is in Indo-European languages, which automatically leads one to the question why
absent from psnku-; for this reason, the connection of the latter with Skt. belui­ different languages have different systems such as binary, ternary, quaternary,
'much, many' must be retained. In the case of '6' (p. 242), the alleged compound quinary, decimal, or vigesimal.
*g"s-l).eks does not conform to any known PIE composition type. As Viredaz (1997)
has recently shown, the PIE word for '6' was *sl).eks without an initial velar, so English is not B.'s native language, and this may account for the some­
that all reconstructions which depart from *Ks- must be given up. PIE '9' should times strange syntax and choice of words in B.'s text. UsualIy these errors are not
be reconstructed with final *-n as *hjnelW, which makes its reconstruction as the disturbing, but one item should be mentioned. When B. speaks about a 'most
acc.sg. of a supposed noun *hjenu- impossible. probable cognate' form of a word, he quite consistently writes 'most hopeful'.
This is probably no more than an innocent error in the translation from Czech to
Die Sprache 39/2 (I997), 239-245 Die Spraehe 39/2 (I997), 239-245
 242 Rezensionen

English; but unintentionally, its frequent occurrence never tires of reminding us

that it is not the cognate which is hopeful, but only the author.

Michiel d e V a a n

References:

Henning, W.B.
1942: An astronomical chapter of the Bundahishn, Journal of the
Royal Asiatic Society, 229-248.
1948: Okto(u), Transactions of the Philological Society, 69.
Klingenschrnitt, G.
1968: Farhang-i Dim. Edition und Kommentar, unpublished doctoral
dissertation Erlangen-Numberg,
Melchert, C.

1994: Ana tolian historical phonology, Amsterdam - Atlanta.

Viredaz,R.
1997: 'Six' en indo-europeen, Indogermanische Forschungen 102,
112-150.

Werner Sun d e r man n , IranianManichaean Turfan texts in earlypublications

(1904-1934). Photo Edition. Corpus Inscriptionum Iran-icarum, Supplementary
Series Volume III, London, School of Oriental and African Studies 1996. 51 p. +
192 plates. ISBN 0 7286 0259 7. Preis: £ 60.

Hierrnit werden die SchwarzweiBaufnahmen samtlicher bis anno 1934 veroffent­

lichten Manichaica der Berliner Turfansammlung und der Peters burger Krotkov-,
Koxanovski- und von Oldenburg-Sammlungen vorgelegt und zum ersten Mal
seit Salemann' in kontrollierbarer Form gesammelt. Die Auswahl ist sinnvoll und
homogen: Sundermanns Photo Edition enthalt mit wenigen Ausnahmerf mittel­
persische und parthische Fragmente im manichaischen Alphabet. AuBerhalb der
gewahlten Grenzen stehen zwei Gruppen von Fragmenten: (1) die "Londoner
Hymnenrolle", die zwei parthische Hymnen in chinesischer Transkription ent­

1 Manichaeische Studien I, Memoires de l'Acedemie Imperiale des Scien­

ces de St.-Petersbourg, VlIIe serie, VIII:10,Saint-Petersbourg 1908.

2 Fragmente in: 50ghdisch (M14,Ml15, M133,M583,5018120,MIK III 4981a

und f; 54, L73, L74, L75, L77, L117), 50ghdisch und Parthisch (M132a, M259c),
Mittelpersisch und 50ghdisch (M309a),50ghdisch und Uigurisch (5014411), Mittel­
persisch, 50ghdisch und Turkisch (Ml72), Parthisch im soghdischen Alphabet
(5018120), Mittelpersisch in tiirkischer Runenschrift (Mainz 172, 402a und b).

Die Sprache 39/2 (1997),239-245

L.