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Danish numbers

olestig.dk

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Re: Danish numbers

#2

Post by wodenokoto »

While the numbers have interesting etymological roots, in practice we just have more "named" numbers than most similar languages. English has special vocabulary with obvious roots for all tens up to 100 and ordinals are regular except first, second and third.

In Danish we just have a lot more irregular ordinals. Practically no-one in Denmark knows about the 20-based number system.

> A Scandinavist language reform movement tried to get the 20-based forms replaced by 10-based like Norwegian and Swedish have. With absolutely no success.

Danes are unusually stubborn that way.

Re: Danish numbers

#4

Post by lordnacho »

> The "logic" of the system is NOT transparent nor generally known to native speakers.

Totally true, you often find people wondering what exactly the pattern is. A good language teacher will tell you though.

> A Scandinavist language reform movement tried to get the 20-based forms replaced by 10-based like Norwegian and Swedish have. With absolutely no success.

If this is a real movement, they need better PR. I've never heard anyone make this case. What's the point anyway?

Interestingly if you look at French, there's a similar thing with the numbers between French French and Swiss French. Soixante-dix vs septante, and similar for 80 and 90.

Re: Danish numbers

#6

Post by yagyu »

chillax wrote: post #3

Situation when norwegians visit denmark: https://youtu.be/xpj2x5s7DkM?t=3m16s

I'd say watching the full 4:17 is worth your time https://youtu.be/xpj2x5s7DkM

Note, this is a parody aired by Norwegian TV, hilarious to anyone who tried learning Danish at least;)

Edit: on the same theme, how to pronounce any Danish word https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAAkBMeXoAAzpZV?format=jpg

Re: Danish numbers

#7

Post by jsolson »

yagyu wrote: post #6
chillax wrote: post #3

Situation when norwegians visit denmark: https://youtu.be/xpj2x5s7DkM?t=3m16s

I'd say watching the full 4:17 is worth your time https://youtu.be/xpj2x5s7DkM Note, this is a parody aired by Norwegian TV, hilarious to anyone who tried learning Danish at least;) Edit: on the same theme, how to pronounce any Danish word https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAAkBMeXoAAzpZV?format=jpg

This is fantastic. I'm an American who's been learning Danish casually, and as a native English speaker the pronunciation is... challenging. Even a year or so in, developing an ear for it is still an ongoing process.

Re: Danish numbers

#8

Post by olq »

jsolson wrote: post #7
yagyu wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say watching the full 4:17 is worth your time https://youtu.be/xpj2x5s7DkM Note, this is a parody aired by Norwegian TV, hilarious to anyone who tried learning Danish at least;) Edit: on the same theme, how to pronounce any Danish word https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAAkBMeXoAAzpZV?format=jpg

This is fantastic. I'm an American who's been learning Danish casually, and as a native English speaker the pronunciation is... challenging. Even a year or so in, developing an ear for it is still an ongoing process.

Learn swedish or norwegian first. Then get drunk and talk while you're eating. You're now speaking danish

Re: Danish numbers

#9

Post by dsr_ »

English: one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty: normal from here on (twenty-five, seventy-three, one million forty-eight thousand five hundred seventy-six)

Spanish: uno dos tres.... (15) quince, normal from 16 on.

French: normal begins at 17 (dix-sept), but runs into trouble later on (courtesy of a friend):

70 - soixante-dix, sixty-ten, 80 - quatre-vingts, four-twenties ("score"), and 90 - quatre-vingt-dix, four-twenty-ten.

That makes 99 "quatre-vingt-dix-neuf".

German is the same pattern as English, normal after 20, but prefers the smaller numbers first.

I have heard that the Russians need to study their conventions intently...

Re: Danish numbers

#10

Post by chr1 »

dsr_ wrote: post #9

English: one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty: normal from here on (twenty-five, seventy-three, one million forty-eight thousand five hundred seventy-six) Spanish: uno dos tres.... (15) quince, normal from 16 on. French: normal begins at 17 (dix-sept), but runs into trouble later on (courtesy of a friend): 70 - soixante-dix…

Russian numbers are ten based and rather straightforward;

odin dva tri ... desyat (10) odinnadtsat dvenadtsat trinadtsat ... dvadtsat (20)

there is no irregularity other than 40 which is sorok instead of chetiredesyat

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