Number Game

Few people are very comfortable with numbers.

As a kid, I used to wonder, what if we were taught to read a language with just the numbers.

It would make printing a bit simpler. And reading is just a question of practice. Use comas between numbers that stand for each alphabet, and the the space between words, as usual. Then came the familiarity with encryption using numbers. But that was made complex, with a purpose. When the teacher taught the articles 'A' , 'An' and 'The', I tried to ask myself, why did “they” (who ever that 'they' were!), stop with just 'A' assigning it the value one, single, singular....

Later it dawned on me that these numbers were already burdened carrying different concepts on their shoulders. Numerals could be used in variety of ways, to signify entirely different things. It is merely a symbol, and we assign values to it.

This question took me back to all the earlier thoughts I had, when I used to spend my leisure with numbers. The question was a bit uncommon.

If only parents show equal interest to play with numbers, as they do while teaching rhymes like twinkle twinkle little star etc, the child would have a wonderful headstart with subtle looking concepts, and learn the art of learning .... that is what I feel. Not just with counting 1 to 10 or 100, the art of 'assigning ' values, using numerals as symbols. With alphabets, we have limitations. English alphabets are used only for English language. Numerals go beyond language. (It may be of interest to note that ancient Masters in India combined poetry, science and mathematics into brief verses, interchanging values of numerals, alphabets, and retaining the emotional flavour in logical use of alphabets, words, numbers, all in one! So, with very little strain on memory, remembering just a poem/verse, one can locate maths, science etc embedded in it for ready reference!)

The asker seems to be satisfied at least for the time being, with the answer, having posed the question, out of a sincere concern. Again it is the love for numbers, that persuaded to even seek for an answer. The answer had to find its verification within the asker, for validity. That is the very nature of the question!

psn(22^nd June, 2011)

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110620062619AAn1UYM

Does brain process numbers in some special way compared to other stuff?

I've noticed one thing: when I speak a foreign language, which I am relatively fluent with, everything goes smoothly but when it comes to numbers, I accidentally jump to my native language and pronounce those numbers in my native language. I have to remember about this all the time if I want to pronounce numbers in that foreign language and once I forget about this, it happens again. I wonder if there is some scientific explanation for this phenomena.

PS. In case this is related: in university and school I studied math a lot and now work in IT.

My answer:

It is not that the 'brain' chooses a particular way. It is an instinctive pattern that is formed with lots of repetition. We see kids, who learn to spell, and if they learn it with wrong spelling for a number of times, they tend to repeat that wrong spelling in a hurry, and then may correct it later on...
We respond very fast, instinctively, when our name is called. Repetition has a special effect. Cashiers will have to fight hard to turn the notes without counting them! And ask them to change the language, and the speed gets reduced, or..... if the fingers are instinctive to a set speed, the number goes wrong.
(there is that thinking language for our verbal thoughts. When there is an unexpected pain, the emotional language comes out.... Ouch, Ayyo, aaah, etc... the word we associate to deep emotions. Incidentally, most people feel only pain as their deepest emotion!)
..
When we decide to process the number, we refer to our memory, and choose the most habitual way of dealing with numbers. We trust the way we are used to, the language, the intonation, etc. The number actually 'rings' or 'sounds' within us. The verbalised thought process starts.
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Actually, when a foreign language is fluent, the numbers ought to be also fluent. But for that we need to have good practice of speaking that language, and we have to stay in touch with spoken use.