daily economic transactions, events marking,
measurements, time-keeping, and record purposes.
It is a time tested, error proof numerical system. The numeral on
the face value looks simple, but a critical examination of it, shows its
complexity. It is based on vigesimal (vice-nary), which uses both
addition and subtraction to express numbers after. Yoruba numeral has
both Ordinal and Cardinal, which makes arithmetic of addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division possible.
The numeral made timing (when no mechanical watch) and measurements
(when there were no complex calibrated gauges) possible, above all, it
made documentation and record-keeping of events in the times past
plausible.
The cardinal numbers in Yoruba numeral are the regular numbers
use in simple counting, they provide answers to (How Questions: how
many, how long, how far a distance, how old, how big). The answers are
represented in simple noun of ten, two, three, twenty, or thousand as
counted, or in adjective form of twelve girls, thirty boys, five snakes,
and fifty miles.
On the order hand, the ordinal from the word order means number
designating (things, places, people, and object) in terms of
arrangement in sequence, or reverse sequentially. Numbers like first,
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth.
Yoruba numeral, like English has both odd and even numbers. Even numbers are divisible by two, but, odd numbers are not.
Ordinal numbers are not different from the Cardinal, except the in
pronunciation. The cardinal numbers are formed (and pronounced) with any
of the five out of seven Yoruba vowel letters (Ẹ, O, Ọ, E, and A); or
with a consonant letter (M). On the other hand, ordinal numbers always
take or start with the consonant letter (K), which shows order or
arrangement of things by precedence.
Counting in Yoruba after the first unit numbers (1-10) is done by
addition and subtraction. Counting from the second unit takes addition
on numbers (11- 14) by adding one after each number, but changes to
substraction from numbers (15-19) by subtracting one from each number
as you move upward to 20. It is a convention, which continues at every
mid-point number such as: 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105,
115,125,135, 145 etc.
After forty (40), every none-divisible-tenth number by twenty such
as: 50, 70, 90,110, 130, 150, 170, 190 has inflectional word (din,
which is less). On the other hand, every divisible tenth by twenty (60,
80,100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200) has Yoruba word for twenty as a root
word for these figures.
Twenty (20) and two-hundred (200) are very important in Yoruba
numerals. The two numbers play the functions of divisor and etymology
for other Yoruba numbers. With the exception of (400 known as Irinwo
in), other numbers divisible by 200 derived their names by the multiple
or number of divisor,(for example 200 × 3 = 600; Ẹgbẹta, which
means Igba lọna mẹta); the none-divisible hundreds, except (300: Ọdunrun) also have, Yoruba word for 200 as root word but, in a subtractive format.
From the table, it shows that Yoruba has a very strong numerical
system, which makes simple arithmetic of addition, subtraction, division
and multiplication possible.
Addition then, and now is still same, it involves
combing or putting together of two or more numbers, symbols such as
sticks, stones, pebbles, grains (maize, corn) were used as counters. At
times, lines could be drawn on wall to do addition.
Next to addition, is Subtraction, which is the
taking away of low numbers from the high numbers, finding differences
between numbers were not uncommon in the times past, farmers used it to
ascertain the extent or degree of jobs done by the hired workers. It is a
record-keeping tool by money lenders of ancient times, and even now. A
major tool to the keep track of payments and outstanding debts.
Multiplication– is the process of increasing a
number by another, farmers always use this arithmetic method to match up
numbers of seeds/crops to available heaps.
Division is the opposite of multiplication, it is a
process of breaking numbers into equal parts, at times, the divisor
determines how the division will go. Besides, there are fractions in
Yoruba numerals. These are numerical representations, or the quotients
of two numbers such as (1/2;3/4; 5/7; ⅔, ⅗, ⅘, ⅚).
In Yoruba we have (abọ/ilaji: 1/2; ilarin: 1/4; ilajọ: 1/8) and so on. This makes division very possible.
Time Keeping
Before
the introduction of mechanical watch by Europeans into Yoruba land,
people used variety of things to indicate time, people observed
movements of certain objects (living and non living) and behavior of
some animals to read time.
Prominent among the time indicators is the Sun, from dusk to dawn,
Yoruba followed the movement of the Sun to know where they were in their
daily affairs. They also listened to cock whenever it crowed, Cock
crows many times a day, but the most attention gaining crows were the
(early morning, mid and late evening). These were time indicators for
daily responsibility of an average Yoruba person in the ancient times.
Although, the introduction of precision equipment has helped
significantly in knowing and managing time better, but, a regular Yoruba
day in the times past was divided into a seven time period.
The Church, and later, the elites upgraded the time keeping system.
At first, time indicators (clocks) were located at the Church premises,
belfry or bell tower (till date) is found on Church premises. It is a
room or an enclosure for a chain-drawn-giant bells, to call worshippers
to early morning and early evening services.
Similarly, giant clocks were also located at Mosques, on top of minaret, where muezzins go to call the faithful to prayers.
The introduction of western civilization into Yoruba land, had
positive impact on the standard of living. The first generation of
Church workers, teachers, traders, artisans, sanitary officers became
the elite, and they started buying imported goods, including
wrist-watches. A wrist-watch back then could serve a whole community.
But as industrialization got under way, with improved living condition,
more people were able to buy goods, which ultimately changed people’s
ways of life.
Measurements in Yoruba
Yoruba
has various measuring devices for different situation, for instance,
they have different types of clay pots or pans for flour-based foods
(Garri, Yam flour, Cassava flour, Millet, maize, beans, and
cereal). The introduction of commercial and private scales, have not
changed local methods, because older market women (without formal
education) still prefer these pans or pots to the calibrated measuring
devices. Yoruba has measurements in three graduated forms:the
small (kekere), the half/middle (arin/ilaji) the big size (n la).
Similarly, those who sell liquid materials like (palm-oil,
ground-nut oil, coco-nut, palm-kernel oil) sell in different sizes of
locally made clay and metal pots, which are still common in villages,
and even in cities. For landed property, measurements in length,
breadth, and width are done by long poles. Peregun tree is used as
landmark.
Yoruba has different shapes, these include:
Circle Obirikiti/Obiri/Ayika
Cone Okoto
Triangle Onigun Mẹta
Area Ile (with mark) ti a pa’la si
Square Igun Mẹrin, Lọgba-Lọgba
Oblong Gigun ju Ibu lọ
Months of the Year
Yoruba
calendar has twelve months which makes a year, before the introduction
of calendar month (Gregorian) by the Europeans, lunar calendar was in
vogue. Months were counted by moon’s revolution or cycle. This method
is slightly different from the Gregorian calendar year introduced by
colonial government, but made popular by the church. The Gregorian
calendar is five or six days (in a leap year) longer than the lunar
calendar.
Nevertheless, both the lunar and the Gregorian calendars have the
same features: each year begins with second, to minutes, hours, days,
weeks, months, and then the year.
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