How the way you count reveals where you're from - BBC REEL

Humans evolved with 10 digits on our hands, and that's likely the reason we have 10 digits in our number system. Counting on your fingers feels like such a natural and obvious thing to do that you might be surprised by just how differently people do it around the world, and how effective some methods can be.
Video by Anand Jagatia
#bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews

[@juliaconnell]

WOW - this was mind blowing - yet again something I just take for granted is done differently - waaaay differently - how interesting & intriguing

[@J_Lag]

Finally!!! A great description about counting system on our hands. I attempted to elaborate this to an archeology professor back then, but I didn't go far, because this is such an oddity to research and I was an undergraduate going for a biology degree so in a way it was pointless. For sure every culture has a counting system unique to them, except globalization has change that these days, but it is still there. Awesome video 😌

[@chachamaru3153]

In Japan, we count as shown in this movie. But when we show a number to other person, we show the number just same as "USA" type.

[@mmcworldbuilding5994]

same in ireland. when counting we use the european system but when showing numbers we use the north american system

[@VandarkVideo]

Same in Korea 😊

[@aspencrest]

Also for the number three? You use USA system with four finger middle finger and ring finger?

[@aspencrest]

Also for the number three? You use USA system with forefnger middle finger and ring finger? No thumb involved?

[@gamesgeargadgets]

@mmcworldbuilding5994 Honestly I'm not convinced we don't do the same here. I'm American and I count starting with my thumb, but don't use my thumb when representing a number other than five.

[@sofiagirscher]

it’s like in that one scene from inglorious bastards where the nazi solider finds out the other is not german because of the way he counts to three with his fingers

[@JM-to9dk]

I’m from the UK and we count like USA and Canada. Didn’t know other parts of Europe counted differently until I watched Inglourious Basterds.

[@shopappleprodux7615]

same

[@teebot5501]

I’m from the uk, and start with my thumb. I guess different areas of the uk count in different ways

[@djenebasidibe468]

The Chinese version makes so much sense when you take into account how the Chinese numbers are written. Like especially e.g. the eight and nine, but also the ten for instance. They seem to try to be imitating the shape on how it's written.

[@kyerwhite4177]

As a Canadian I start with my thumb when counting

[@marc-andrechevrette3420]

I remember when I was in China, I ordered 7 pieces of food and raised a full hand + 2 fingers on the other hand. The guy in front of me didn't get it at first.....

[@FluffyNanachi]

He is confusing because you didn't order for 25 or 52 pieces depending on the order.

[@TheGuyCalledX]

The cheat 7 is to just make the shape 7 with your thumb and index finger pointing down. Everyone will know what that means in China

[@alexandermcclure6185]

I either count to 12 on either hand (counting segments instead of creases) to get to 144, or I count to 10 on either hand using ASL. (1:☝,2:✌,3:✌with👍, 4:🖐without👍, 5:🖐, 6: touch thumb with pinky, 7: pinky -> ring, 8: ring -> middle, 9: middle -> index, 10: 👍)

[@galvachev]

There’s a slight variation for the European system I grew up with. Many people do a switch between 3 and 4. For 3, you’ve got your thumb, index and middle finger out of course, but when switching to 4, you open your ring finger and pinky, while closing your thumb inwards. It is more comfortable than having all your fingers except for the pinky out.

[@andriusbalukas207]

Also, counting on one's finger knuckles for divisions of 12 (great for months, hours, or feet in inches) or 16 (divisions in inches, or hexadecimal counting). 3 knuckles for each finger =12, while 4 knuckles for each finger would = 16.

[@suzettehenderson9278]

In ASL, numbers are signed with one hand, I wonder if that effects the method of counting?

[@Pedasus]

I'm Indian and my dad actually taught me the binary method , in which you can count upto 1023 with 10 fingers

[@ImNotCreativeEnoughToMakeUser]

My grandma grew up near Chernobyl, and she can count up to 13 on her fingers

[@fuzuligulmammadli7884]

It's impossible for me to show 4 with my thumb open and pinky folded.

[@juliaconnell]

I remember being taught about different 'bases' in school - base 8 or base 12 - (here, from wiki - "The numeral system, or for short, is the base-8 number system, and uses the digits 0 to 7, that is to say 10 represents 8 in decimal and 100 represents 64 in decimal. However, English uses a base-10 number language system" - base 10 is so obvious as a counting system to us as most of us have 10 fingers/thumbs - remember being worried as a kid - all these messages we're sending out into space - or contact in movies etc - does the math translate (like we use pi or prime numbers to make first contact - but aren't these 'mathematical constants' to us based in base 10) - I'm sure people much smarter than me have dealt with this issue & taken it into account - but remember being really worried about this as a kid

[@eljanrimsa5843]

no need to worry. we send the numerical part of space message in binary system, base 2.

[@juliaconnell]

@@eljanrimsa5843 awesome, thank you!

[@juanmico4085]

I recall my (Spanish) grandma counting the way is described here as in India (lines in each finger).

[@troyclayton]

Decades ago I taught myself to count in binary on my fingers. 10 digits gives a limit of 1023. edit: bit I prefer to keep it at 8 digits (like I count that high) so it's analogous to 8 digit binary machine code.

[@klaxxor]

I'm from Canada and I start with my thumb and many others do as well.

[@neodro4831]

This was so fascinating and refreshing!!!!

[@ivanstayner8818]

My dad is from England. And he starts with his pinky.

[@heins6157]

In the Inglorious Bastards movie, that was how the fake Nazi was revealed😄😄😄

[@TheGuyCalledX]

In china, there are actually multiple ways of counting 6-10 on one hand. Ten is often a fist. It can also be crossing both index fingers to resemble the Chinese character for 10 (十). Nine is often a curled index finger pointing up (which looks like the number 9). Eight can be 2 fingers pointing down, because it looks like 八, the chinese character for 8. Seven can also by an index finger pointing down with the thumb sticking out, looking like a 7.

[@TieDef]

In Japan, in addition to what is shown, people count up to ten on one hand by then uncurling the figures back again. But when showing numbers to others they use the American style, except for numbers greater than 5 when the left hand is opened and the right hand has the additional numbers displayed backwards tapped into the palm of the open left. (So for 7 you tap right index and middle fingers face down into your open left hand.) The bidders at the fish auctions in Japan also have their own special finger numbering system as well.

[@crstothard]

I could listen to Ben Kenobi all day, every day!

[@braunarsch]

What's with colouring arunachal and Kashmir in white on the Indian map.... y'all really that afraid of China? Lol

[@MaGioZal]

Here in Brazil (South America) we show numbers with fingers in the same manner as Americans and Canadians… but when counting, sometimes we use the thumb as a first number of the hand.

[@kimszabo6752]

How awesome. It would be awesome to have one in your yard. Or growing at our church. Planted to be blessed and appreciated.

[@brunorocha8092]

I count by the fingers sometimes but in a different way than those shown here, I've seen others counting this way too. with semi closed hand my thumb touches all the fingers tips till gets back to thumb doing the thumb up symbol, then after 5 returns back to the beginning only using 1 hand. when you reach 100+ I put 1 finger from my left hand on the table when 200+ I put 2 and so on..

[@mariliaandaluz5238]

And where do we start counting with the pinky finger? My favorite finger-counting way always was starting with the baby finger of both hands.

[@ImNotCreativeEnoughToMakeUser]

There's a very specific word for this. I don't remember what it is though, unfortunately. Basically, this word refers to a trait/mannerism that is specific to certain groups, and can be indicative of where you're from.

[@YourAashique]

1:55 Yes, right ❤

[@poponachtschnecke]

TF, in America i start with my right thumb, where the hell did you hear it was an index finger?

[@WillowEverlight]

Wow, they were spot on!

[@davevanfunk8917]

Fascinating!

[@mariliaandaluz5238]

My teacher Roxana sometimes started counting first with the thumb and also ending with thumb.

[@mcmholdzchoi7345]

I really searched for this bcoz we Filipino count with our pinky first

[@mariliaandaluz5238]

My favorite finger-counting way is the first green hand.

I'm Brazilian and I always count starting with my right index finger, not left.

[@8-Magicalpotato]

I count staring with right thumb then ending with left pinky counting up to 2047

[@RRVVWW73]

According to this I’m from Europe - nope, Canada.

[@rogeriopenna9014]

I am skeptical. Each time I count on the fingers I do it differently. There is no pattern.

[@niignastii]

I am completely unable to count european style because my ring finger cannot go up without my pinky.

[@letspetpuppies]

i thought they were gonna show the tarantino clip

[@sayanmondal8749]

Meanwhile West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh : Am I a joke to you... 🤣

[@nitsudrhodes]

They didn't even mention all the different methods in sign languages! I like in American Sign Language (ASL) how you can keep counting just with one hand.

[@tadeoespinozandb8881]

All American people count starting with index finger, not only USA and Canada, it's the same for the rest continent

[@rivertam7827]

I start with my right thumb, I'm a right handed Australian.... 🤷‍♀️

[@Kushagra.j]

Good video but stop showing the incorrect map of India!

[@juliaconnell]

at least you're ON the map - just google MapsWithoutNZ - enough of an issue to have its own dedicated subreddit (constantly updated -) seriously so many example - NZ Herald did top 10* list few years back (both can be googled - I would provide links but youtube tends to view these as spam and deletes it) (AND we have a larger land mass than the UK) (United Kingdom is approximately 243,610 sq km, while New Zealand is approximately 268,838 sq km, making New Zealand 10% larger than United Kingdom) - much love from Aotearoa/New Zealand * list includes an image posted of a British A-level *geography textbook* features a stylised map of the world cut into a leaf. And ironically, considering the subject matter, New Zealand is nowhere to be seen. population map at prestigious Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC "Education is the most powerful weapon", t-shirt from American university student

[@Jidan-HS]

@kushagra The Map in this video are very correct, what did you find as mistakes in that map

[@dhanaraja5320]

@@Jidan-HS Jammu and Kashmir , Arunachal Pradesh is in India.

[@sayanmondal8749]

@@Jidan-HS bruh !! Seriously 🤣 they have even removed West Bengal... WTF 🤣

[@cat_pb]

Me, from 🇵🇹 Portugal starting from my pinky as well~ 🌝

[@professorandrew4837]

Ancient Romans were built different

[@eljanrimsa5843]

Born engineers

[@ddddirge]

I use mixed one, 1-5 like the USA, and 6-9 like the Europe one... So I can use only one hand with that...

[@wokenessaplague5387]

We indians also have a better version of counting till 10 then chinese After 5 ,6=👍 and with each finger u open it increases till 9 and then a fist becomes 10 and using both hands one can count till 99 where each hand representing one unit place

[@mypiang]

how do you even do 4 in european way

[@ChibiSteak]

4:31 fin.

[@vadimananenko2452]

I have to say the way Iran count is easy as well, I might hooked up on it

[@MrHellelement]

Drei Gläser!

[@LordPenguinVR]

I just learned how to count in binary. That is kind of fun.

[@clarebebbington9984]

I count all three ways just depends on the day

[@TheLisaBronstein]

I'm from Russia and I curl fingers in when counting, but start with the pinky finger. I have no idea if this is a national custom or only I do that😀

[@lunislunna6983]

Sou do Brazil conto igual a você amo as músicas russas desde 2001, minha bisavô tinha sobrenome Brauno tem alguém por aí com este sobrenome? Spaciba🤗

[@juliaconnell]

I learnt this lesson from (In)Glorious B@stards - that different cultures count differently 😉

[@aimanzaman2]

Chinese just liked to invest symbol for everything 3:00

[@mamajojoful]

omg why do I count starting with my right thumb and unfurl them one digit at a time...I'm not normal!

[@oltedders]

I count the same way ending with my left thumb.

[@faceless_simplified]

I’m an American living in Japan. Someone please tell me why i start with my pinkie and put fingers down to count them 😂😂😂😂

[@larrybeeman4394]

The difference with a knife and fork as well as a spoon in a bowl of soup.

[@leonardogentilin335]

Why use fingers if you can count mentally?

[@philinator71]

I'm Australian and count the European way according to this video.

[@rivertam7827]

I start with my right thumb, I was wondering if it's an Australian thing or I'm a freak lol

[@mariliaandaluz5238]

Hay tres formas: pulgar, índice y meñique.

[@stevehe3419]

people use a clenched fist to represent the number ten.

[@Rvj.12]

Nice informative video but indian map is wrong.

[@aishitemasuu]

Since when im from Iran

[@cutiepetutie77]

The 4 doing it the German way is impossible like how?!!!

[@JasonGatt-j3c]

Finger Family World 🌎 Nursery Rhymes World 🌏 TV 📺 🖥 🐈 Baby 👶 Toot Toot 🎉 Italiano 🇮🇹 - Canzoni per bambini Nursery Rhymes World 🌍 Tv 📺 🖥 Español 🇪🇸 - Canciones Nursery Rhymes World 🌎 TV 📺 🖥 Deutschland 🇩🇪 Loco Nuts 🐘 - Comptines en français 🇫🇷 Kids Tv 📺 🖥 Português 🇵🇹 Contos de Fadas e Histórias 👦 🌽 Nursery Rhymes World 🌎 Tv 📺 🖥 Vietnam 🇻🇳 - trẻ em bài hát Nursery Rhymes World 🌎 Tv 📺 🖥 Russia 🇷🇺 - детское видео Nursery Rhymes World 🌎 Tv 📺 🖥 Thailand 🇹🇭

[@jadibo1984]

I’m Spanish but I count like I’m from “USA”…

[@OnesFan1]

Indians are another level

[@AlvinLee007]

Singapore counts like USA.

[@FarzanaFathima-t4e]

I heard of a binary 10-dimensional system.

[@44Mat]

NOPE 1 = Is a Pinkie 5=Thumb 6= 2xThumb 10= 2xPinkie.

[@gamingtopten45]

The linear system is fcking stupid. Hold up 1 for me and you’re gonna hold up your thumb?

[@weme11]

I count like the indians way but I am from Bangladesh which is a neighbouring country of India.

[@oltedders]

American. I start with my right thumb, fingers closed then open as I count, and end with my left thumb, starting with palm open, but touching 6, 7, 8 and 9 with the left thumb.

[@Hammer332]

Very basic and bizarre error regarding the UK. The ''American'' way of counting is also British.

[@56independent]

I was born in wales and i use my thumb to start.

[@schioana]

My English husband says he counts it the "European" way shown in this video.

[@christinaslocum8761]

I count from my left thumb. Raised in Bermuda and the UK. Americans count differently.

[@pranavkale9372]

Why would you omit j&k and Arunachal Pradesh from the map of India, what is wrong with y'all?

[@student1062]

Pok and cok, i think this might be why they removed it.

[@Ashallmusica]

People : Counting only 10 fingers Me : Can see 30 Digits, so can count to 30 ( like n One finger, you see three layers now count each layer in each finger ). That's mindset for You.

[@claraf9507]

what about the thumb tho…