Système de numération en wolof : description et comparaison avec les autres langues atlantiques

Abstract

The Wolof (Atlantic, Niger-Congo) numeral system is decimal, with an additive pivot 5. This means that there are special words for the numbers 1 to 5, but that 6, 7, 8 and 9 are formed by 5 + one unit (1, 2, 3, 4 respectively). From 10 onwards, the count starts again. The system is very regular, as only 20 and 30 have unpredictable forms. In addition, despite the relative genetic proximity between the members of the Atlantic family, the numeral systems of these languages display many differences, in particular with regard to the structure of complex numbers. This article provides a detailed description of the Wolof numeral system (list and status of lexical units, morphosyntactic structure of complex numbers), as well as a comparison with the systems of other Atlantic languages.