Pazeh Language - Numerals

Numerals

Pazeh and Saisiyat are the only Formosan languages that do not have a bipartite numerical system consisting of both human and non-human numerals (Li 2006). Pazeh is also the only language that forms the numerals 6 to 9 by addition (However, Saisiyat, which is closely related to Pazeh, expresses the number 6 as 5 + 1, and 9 as 10 − 1.)

• 1 = ida adang
• 2 = dusa
• 3 = turu
• 4 = supat
• 5 = xasep
• 6 = 5 + 1 = xaseb-uza
• 7 = 5 + 2 = xaseb-i-dusa
• 8 = 5 + 3 = xaseb-i-turu
• 9 = 5 + 4 = xaseb-i-supat

The number "five" in Pazeh, xasep, is similar to Saisiyat Laseb, Taokas hasap, Babuza nahup, and Hoanya hasip (Li 2006). Li (2006) believes that the similarity is more likely because of borrowing rather than common origin. Laurent Sagart considers these numerals to be ancient retentions from Proto-Austronesian, but Paul Jen-kuei Li considers them to be local innovations. Unlike Pazeh, these plains aboriginal languages, as well as the Atayalic languages, use 2 × 4 to express the number 8. (The Atayalic languages, as well as Thao, also use 2 × 3 to express the number 6.) Saisiyat, Thao, Taokas, Babuza use 10 − 1 to express 9, while Saisiyat uses 5 + 1 to express 6 as Pazeh does. The Ilongot language of the Philippines also derives numerals in the same manner as Pazeh does (Blust 2009:273).

Furthermore, numerals can function as both nouns and verbs in all Formosan languages, including Pazeh.