Luchazi numerical vocabulary

Numbers vocabulary in Luchazi 

A number is an arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity, or amount. A digit is any of the numerals from 0 to 9, especially when forming part of a number. In Luchazi numerical system, the digits are from 0 to 5.

The cardinal numbers

These are numbers denoting quantity; numbers that are used in simple counting and that indicates how many elements there are in an assemblage. The Luchazi people, as a rule, count cardinal numbers from one to five and then add the lower digits to the five until ten is reached. Then the multiples of ten are used until one hundred, and then the multiples of a hundred until a thousand is reached.

• Imo = one (1).
• Ivali = two (2).
• Itatu = three (3).
• Iuana = four (4).
• Itanu = five (5).
• Itanu na imo = five and one; six (6).
• Itanu na ivali = five and two; seven (7).
• Itanu na itatu = five and three; eight (8).
• Itanu na iuana = five and four; nine (9).
• Likumi = ten (10).
• Likumi na imo = eleven (11).
• Likumi na itanu na imo = sixteen (16).
• Makumi avali = twenty (20).
• Makumi avali na itanu na imo = twenty-six (26).
• Makumi atanu na limo na imo = sixty-one (61).
• Cihita = one hundred (100).
• Vihita vivali na makumi atatu na itanu na imo = two hundred and thirty-six (236).
• Likulukazi = one thousand (1000).

The ordinal numbers

These are numbers designating the place (as first, second, or third) occupied by an item in an ordered sequence. In Luchazi numerical system, the ordinal numbers are not much used beyond five, and beyond five consist of the cardinal numbers added to five or ten and its multiples.

• A mu cimo = first.
• A katete = first.
• A ku livanga = first.
• A mu civali = second.
• A mu citatu = third.
• A mu ciuana =fourth.
• A mu citanu = fifth.
• A mu citanu na imo = sixth.
• A mu citanu na zivali = seventh.
• A mu citanu na zitatu = eighth.
• A mu citanu na ziuana = ninth.
• A mu likumi = tenth.
• A mu likumi na imo = eleventh.
• A mu likumi na zivali = twelfth.
• A mu likumi na itatu = thirteenth.
• A mu likumi na itanu na itatu.
• A mu makumi avali = twentieth.
• A mu makumi atatu na ivali = thirty second.

Fractions

Fraction is a numerical quantity that is not a whole number (as ½, 0.5), or a numerical representation (as ¾, 5/8, or 3.234) indicating the quotient of two numbers. To show fractions the Luchazi people usually say, “one out of so many”. Here are the fractions in luchazi language:

• Cimo ku vivali = ½. Half value.
• Cimo ku vitatu = 1/3. Third value.
• Vivali ku vitatu = 2/3. Two thirds.
• Cimo ku viuana = ¼. Quarter value.
• Vitatu ku viuana = ¾. Three quarters.
• Cimo ku vitanu = 1/5. Fifth value.
• Vivali ku vitanu = 2/5. Two fifths.
• Vitatu ku vitanu = 3/5. Three fifths.
• Viuana ku vitanu = 4/5. Four fifths.
• Cimo ku vitanu na cimo = 1/6. Sixth value.
• Cimo ku vitanu na vivali = 1/7. Seventh value.
• Cimo ku vitanu na vitatu = 1/8. one out of eight.
• Cimo ku vitanu na viuana = 1/9. Ninths value.
• Cimo ku likumi = 1/10. Tenth value.
• Vitatu ku likumi = 3/10. Three tenths.
• Vitanu na vivali ku likumi = seven tenths.

Multiplicative

Multiplicative means tending or having the power to multiply or increase in number or quantity or degree.

• Lumo = once.
• Luvali = twice.
• Lutatu = thrice.
• Luuana = four times.
• Lutanu = five times.
• Lutanu na lumo = six times.
• Lutanu na luvali = seven times.
• Lutanu na lutatu = eight times.
• Lutanu na luuana = nine times.
• Likumi ya zintsimbu = ten times.
• Zintsimbu likumi = ten times.
• Zintsimbu likumi na imo = eleven times.

Shapes and sizes

Beeswax and rubber are moulded in shapes and sizes as agreed upon by the producers and traders. Rubber is moulded in the following measures:

• Mutali = a cylindrical piece about the size of a man’s forearm.
• Cisama = a rectangular piece about an inch thick; two feet long and a foot wide.
• Citota = a pile of ten mitali or ten visama.
• Cipale = a pile of ten vitota.

Beeswax is moulded in the following measures:

• Mbunge = a spherical mass about one foot in diameter.
• Lipaua = a rectangular block averaging two feet in length, a foot wide and a foot thick.