How to count in Bimin (Bim Weng), a Mountain Ok language spoken in the west of Papua New Guinea.
Bimin has a 27-base counting system based on parts of the body known as fu deng deng. These days, these numbers are used up to 20, but rarely past there. When counting specific things, other numbers can be used as follows: 1 = makmak, 2 = alew, 4 alew(i)alew, 5 = teing.
If any of the numbers are links, you can hear a recording by clicking on them. If you can provide recordings, please contact me.
| Numeral | Cardinal |
|---|---|
| 1 | auk (left thumb) |
| 2 | auk teben (left index finger) |
| 3 | yemamas (left middle finger) |
| 4 | ketket teben (left ring finger) |
| 5 | ketket (left little finger) |
| 6 | gung (left wrist) |
| 7 | ben (left forearm) |
| 8 | duan (left inner elbow) |
| 9 | teiw (left upper arm) |
| 10 | king (left shoulder) |
| 11 | guel (left side of neck) |
| 12 | kalun (left ear) |
| 13 | kiin (left eye) |
| 14 | mutum (nose) |
| 15 | kiin mali (right eye) |
| 16 | kalun mali (right ear) |
| 17 | guel mali (right side of neck) |
| 18 | king mali (right shoulder) |
| 19 | teiw mali (upper arm) |
| 20 | duan mali (right inner elbow) |
| 21 | ben mali (right forearm) |
| 22 | gung mali (right wrist) |
| 23 | auk mali (right thumb) |
| 24 | auk teben mali (right index finger) |
| 25 | yemamas mali (right middle finger) |
| 26 | ketket teben mali (right ring finger) |
| 27 | ketket mali (right little finger) |
Information about Bimin numbers
https://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/channumerals/Bimin.htm
https://www.sil.org/resources/archives/43843
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Bimin | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Alphabetical index | Language family index
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