Universal #1354

Legacy number: 1354

 Number  1350
 Original  Division is always expressed as multiplication by a fraction. Only units or multiples of units are dividends, and the denominator of the fraction is always 2 or a power of 2.
 Standardized  IF a numeral system has division, THEN it is always expressed as multiplication by a fraction.
 Keywords  numeral
 Domain  word formation
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  56 languages mentioned in Greenberg 1978a
 Source  Greenberg 1978a: 261 (#16)

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Discussion
Notes
Greenberg 1978: 261: “Division is even more ‘marked’ than subtraction and subject to severe limitations. Almost all examples are 50 expressed as (1/2 x100), usually in a vigesimal system. In Oryia, an Indo-Aryan language, 275 is ‘pau ne tini sata’ ‘quarter from three hundred’, i.e. (3x100) - (1/4 x100), with the occurence of 100 which is multiplied by 1/4 being deleted. ‘Half’ is the ‘unmarked fraction’ and is almost always a simple lexical item, often derived from ‘to split’, or ‘to break’ or the like.”
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Greenberg 1978: 261: "Division is even more 'marked' than subtraction and subject to severe limitations. Almost all examples are 50 expressed as (1/2 x100), usually in a vigesimal system. In Oryia, an Indo-Aryan language, 275 is 'pau ne tini sata' 'quarter from three hundred', i.e. (3x100) - (1/4 x100), with the occurence of 100 which is multiplied by 1/4 being deleted. 'Half' is the 'unmarked fraction' and is almost always a simple lexical item, often derived from 'to split', or 'to break' or the like."