Numeral system in Lotha

Abstract

This research study delves into the numeral system of Lotha, a language spoken in the Wokha district of Nagaland, India. Employing a linguistic fieldwork methodology, we have compiled a comprehensive corpus of spoken data, featuring a diverse array of lexical items and sentences. The use of audio recorders, notably Zoom H4n, facilitated accurate and reliable data recordings. Transcriptions were carried out to preserve the original linguistic features, and translations were provided to facilitate analysis and interpretation. The findings reveal a numeral system that showcases a unique combination of cardinal and ordinal systems, where a decimal counting system in Lotha has been identified. In Lotha numerals are combined with additive, multiplicative, and compound patterns, with specific constructions for certain numbers and deviations from standard mathematical patterns. It provides an insight into the evolution of Lotha numerals, tracing their origins to ancient practices of counting on fingers and keeping reckoning with ‘little bundles of sticks’. It highlights the profile of ‘one’ in Lotha which has two approaches using two distinct forms; èkʰā as a numeral and mòtsə̀ŋā as a classifier for one. It also provides an insight into the role of èkʰā in the Lotha decimal system which serves a dual purpose, representing both ‘one’ and ‘ten’ in the formation of the three highest round numbers 70, 80, and 90. The study sheds light on the numeral system of Lotha and contributes to a deeper understanding of the diverse numeral expressions within the language. The implications of the findings extend to practices and linguistic documentation, where efforts to preserve the numeral system can be strengthened while aiming to fill in the research gap of numerals in Lotha.