Something strange concerning language...

[SnoopDog]

Sometimes there are these little strange things when you deal with foreign languages. Of course I'm already used to most Americans and English not using the metric system or the degree Celsius.

But why is it that in english 'a million' is followed by 'a billion' while for instance in German 'eine million' is followed by 'eine milliarde' and then by 'eine billion'.

So that makes it:

a million - eine million
a billion - eine milliarde
a trillion - eine billion
a ????(what follows a trillion by the way???) - eine billiarde

The same thing is, even while german and english are closely related 'who' means 'wer' and 'where' means 'wo'

I could go crazy thinking about things like that.

Snoopy

Snoopy

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

My Dad had a Volkswagen. On cold mornings when he started it, it would go, "Varoom!"

I often heard him reply, "Because I have to go to work, that's why."

See! I come by it legitimately.




Snoopy,

An American billion = a thousand million. (9 zeros.)
An English billion = a million million.(12 zeros) [An American trillion]

Could a German billion be both perhaps?

eine milliarde = an American billion

and

eine billion = an English billion (or an American trillion)

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Same is true in the UK where (correct me if I'm wrong), a thousand million is called a thousand million. In the US a thousand million equals a billion. The US trillion equals a European billion.

But why should the European number system change form and skip a special name for thousand million? That's so French

Of course, nothing's worse in taking high school German than coming up against the German word for "trip" or "journey", which is Fahrt. Our German book was called (if I remember correctly, "Fahrt Im Lande". Try teaching that to fourteen year-olds.

In chemistry we have occasion to talk about the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital, or HOMO. It gets a little dicey when we start talking about HOMO's and insertion reactions.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

Yep, even Perdita, a true Wagnerite, works hard at staying in the mood during Siegfried's "Rhine fahrt".

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . Siegfried's "Rhine fahrt", . . .

Are they pretty, like Rhine stones?

 

[CrazyyAngel]

Actually if I am not mistaken, the German word "Milliarde" is the odd one ... cause Billion seems to be more logical to follow Million. But that theory was thrown out the window, when Ms. Burlesque said, there even is a difference between american and british numbers ... So I don't have an idea why that is ... but I wondered it often myself .

As for the "Fahrt" ... I try not to be a smart ass, but "trip" and "journey" doesnt necessarily translate to "Fahrt" ... "Reise" would be more like it. But I can see, why "Fahrt" is much funnier .

CA

 

[Lisa Denton]

My Dad had a Volkswagen. On cold mornings when he started it, it would go, "Varoom!"

I often heard him reply, "Because I have to go to work, that's why."

See! I come by it legitimately.




Snoopy,

An American billion = a thousand million. (9 zeros.)
An English billion = a million million.(12 zeros) [An American trillion]

Could a German billion be both perhaps?

eine milliarde = an American billion

and

eine billion = an English billion (or an American trillion)

I think a million fahrt's is a varoom.

Just bumpin your thread snoop.

 

[TheEarl]

My Dad had a Volkswagen. On cold mornings when he started it, it would go, "Varoom!"

I often heard him reply, "Because I have to go to work, that's why."

See! I come by it legitimately.

LOL! I'll have to remember that one.

For the non-German speakers who don't get it, 'warum' (pronounced varoom) is German for 'why?'

DrM: See, now to my mind the English system makes more sense than the American one.

100 = one hundred
1000 = one thousand
10,000 = ten thousand
(No, I am no writing an essay in binary. This does have a point!)
100,000 = one hundred thousand
1,000,000 = one million
10,000,000 = ten million
100,000,000 = one hundred million

Now, what do you call 1,000,000,000? The pattern so far has been naming numbers up to the highest 10 value below it. Convoluted sentence, I know.

Look at the thousands - ten thousand, hundred thousand. We don't give 100,000 a special name, because a hundred is a smaller 10 value than a thousand and so the naming carries on in the same vein, until we get to 1,000,000 (a thousand thousand), whereupon it changes to million. It only changes over when the first 10 value is equal to the second value (as mathematical theory states that it is illogical to have a 'thousand thousand' for '1,000,000' as that leaves you open to a 'thousand-and-one thousands').

So then we move onto the millions. Ten million, hundred million and then the next logical progression is thousand million. Why should the second 10 value change name? A thousand is still smaller than a million, why switch to a billion now? The billion is logically switched to when there is a million million, thus ensuring consistency.

So, in summary - England rules, USA sucks <raspberry>

The Earl

 

[gauchecritic]

There are probably two reasons for American billions.

1. They could then have billionaires and not have to use thousands of millions (which are a lot more than a billion from the sound) when announcing war costs or trade deficits.

2. Laziness. American number structures don't even bother to include the 'and' in numbering. (probably because they don't want to appear French) English: one hundred and one, French: Cent et un, American ahundredone.

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[SnoopDog]

My Dad had a Volkswagen. On cold mornings when he started it, it would go, "Varoom!"

LOL: I had to read it twice to get it, superb.

Well, now I'm even more confused. American way, english way, german way. I wonder how the guys from palau call a billion.

By the way, we don't add '.' or ',' in a number, just a ',' in like 120,30 € (=120 Euro, 30 cents)

Oh, and well 'Fahrt' might be funny, but isn't there also an english word 'geld' (which is German for money) that means something naughty?

Snoopy

 

[gauchecritic]

Oh, and well 'Fahrt' might be funny, but isn't there also an english word 'geld' (which is German for money) that means something naughty?

Snoopy

Gelt (probably from geld) is a common word for money. Geld is not funny in the least, as it has to do with castration. It is only funny in this context.

Farmer: You don't need to get the vet in to geld your horse, just do it yourself with two bricks.

Horse owner: Doesn't that hurt?

Farmer: Only if you catch your thumbs.

 

[SnoopDog]

Gelt (probably from geld) is a common word for money. Geld is not funny in the least, as it has to do with castration. It is only funny in this context.

Farmer: You don't need to get the vet in to geld your horse, just do it yourself with two bricks.

Horse owner: Doesn't that hurt?

Farmer: Only if you catch your thumbs.

Ouch ! (= 'Autsch' in german)

Snoopy

 

[TheEarl]

LOL: I had to read it twice to get it, superb.

Well, now I'm even more confused. American way, english way, german way. I wonder how the guys from palau call a billion.

By the way, we don't add '.' or ',' in a number, just a ',' in like 120,30 € (=120 Euro, 30 cents)

Oh, and well 'Fahrt' might be funny, but isn't there also an english word 'geld' (which is German for money) that means something naughty?

Snoopy

Geld is what you do to a horse if you don't want him chasing the fillies. Don't mention that to Shanglan, whatever you do.

I did know that continentals don't use the ',' separator for groups of three 0s, but I really can't help myself. It takes me a good few seconds to read European maths, simply because I'm used to having my zeros grouped.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

Ouch ! (= 'Autsch' in german)

Snoops, I like that, but probably won't remember it in time when I actually need to say 'ouch'.

This has actually been a very interesting thread, but I mainly want to ask about your AV, what is it, what does it signify? Are you in mourning?

Perdita

 

[dreampilot79]

Foreign languages (like english) give me such trouble!!

I get a headache when I try to think out of American!!!

 

[English Lady]

Snoop...I have enough trouble working in my own language to even contemplate juggling even another extra one*L*


Earl....this is the only bit of your post I really understood.

"So, in summary - England rules, USA sucks <raspberry>"


And so I totally agree with ya!


gauche -your two posts made me laugh out loud. the binary joke gave hubby a good chuckle too

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . So, in summary - England rules, USA sucks . . .

Nein! Nein!

Just different priorities.

England wanted a rational numbering system.

America wanted to be able to claim to have a number of Billionaires, as a rationale for bragging about what a wonderful country we are.

If a billion was a million million, there would be no Billionaires in America.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Geld is what you do to a horse if you don't want him chasing the fillies. Don't mention that to Shanglan, whatever you do.

*wince* Thanks, too late. I didn't suffer too badly, however; once one has read Gloria Naylor's symbolic representation of female genital mutilation in "Bailey's Cafe," one is proof against most passing references to genital trauma, even those involving bricks. It's amazing what that woman can do with a plum.

Of course, nothing's worse in taking high school German than coming up against the German word for "trip" or "journey", which is Fahrt. Our German book was called (if I remember correctly, "Fahrt Im Lande". Try teaching that to fourteen year-olds.

I once reviewed a children's book that related the adventures of the Newfoundland dog that Lewis and Clark took with them on their famous expedition. It was a good book, well-written and full of interesting historical details wrapped in an exciting story. It was also, unfortunately, named for the dog. I can only imagine the sniggering when a group of 10-12 year olds gets hold of a book called "Seaman."

I would add to Gauche's comments the suspicion that "geld" might be the older term for money - at least, I have always seen blood price rendered "wergeld" or "weregild."

Shanglan

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

...ten
...hundred
Thousands
...ten
...hundred
Milliions
...ten
...hundred
Billions
...ten
...hundred
Trillions
...etc.

Maybe I'm missing something, how is this not rational or regular or sensible?

 

[BlackShanglan]

So then we move onto the millions. Ten million, hundred million and then the next logical progression is thousand million. Why should the second 10 value change name? A thousand is still smaller than a million, why switch to a billion now? The billion is logically switched to when there is a million million, thus ensuring consistency.

So when do you lot go to "one trillion"? Following this pattern, it ought to go "one billion, ten billion, one hundred billion, one thousand billion, one million billion, one trillion."

Does it? If so, when I make my fortune of one trillion, I am definitely doing it in pounds.

Shanglan

 

[impressive]

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't.

bahahahahahahahahahahaha!

 

[impressive]

Foreign languages (like english) give me such trouble!!

I get a headache when I try to think out of American!!!

I had a foreign exchange student from Brussels stay with me during high school. I vividly remember her waking me in the middle of the night -- about 6 months into her stay -- to inform me that she'd had her first dream in English.

 

[SnoopDog]

Snoops, I like that, but probably won't remember it in time when I actually need to say 'ouch'.

This has actually been a very interesting thread, but I mainly want to ask about your AV, what is it, what does it signify? Are you in mourning?

Perdita

No, no miurning. I just picked it because I thought it was a clever pic. It's a shot of the Popocatepetl and the smoke looks like the shape of a doggy face. Someone decided to do a photoshop and include two eyes, and I think it looks like Snoop. I hope that people recognize it.

I had a foreign exchange student from Brussels stay with me during high school. I vividly remember her waking me in the middle of the night -- about 6 months into her stay -- to inform me that she'd had her first dream in English.

Yeah, I'm way past that stage. I often talk, think, dream in english.

That's the only way I watch movies nowadays.

Snoopy

 

[Xelebes]

Nein! Nein!

Just different priorities.

England wanted a rational numbering system.

America wanted to be able to claim to have a number of Billionaires, as a rationale for bragging about what a wonderful country we are.

If a billion was a million million, there would be no Billionaires in America.

But the US debt would now be in billions.

 

[Weird Harold]

a ????(what follows a trillion by the way???) - eine billiarde

Since nobody has answerd this one:

1,000 Trillion = one Quadrillion
1,000 Quadrillion = one Quintillion.
1,000 Quintillion = one Sextilion
1,000 Sextillion = one Septillion.
Etc through Octillion, Nonillion and Decillion

I don't know of any specific terms for numbers higher than a decillion except for Google (10^100) and Googleplex (10^100^100)