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Greetings. I have been reading the daily digest for some time now
and, while I am not as of yet sufficiently versed in tlhinghan grammar to engage
in substantive discussion, I do have an intriguing question based on
psychosociological and developmental semantic principles.
I note
the KLI fonts present a base 10 numeric system, however, I do not recall canon
addressing the issue of Klingon mathematics. Given that all symbolic
systems are representational, and given too the Klingon history of military
practicality over bureaucratic interference, I cannot fully understand why the
Klingon numeric system (KNS to save keystrokes) should be base 10
(barring the "obvious" - Klingons being a 5 digit per extremity
race).
To me,
a much more militaristic, practical, and perhaps "culturally rich"
system would be base 12, for the following observations:
Culturally - Klingon iconography seems inordinately interested in
triangular shapes. 12 is factorable by 3, providing a clear cultural
imperative.
Militarily - 12 is more readily factored (without repeating
decimals). Military unit organization becomes infinitely more
flexible.
Politically - Klingons are a practical conquering race. A digital
system has no real justification other than "I have this many digits
attached to my body." A base 12 system has the advantage of rapid
mental factorability, allowing a subjected race to be more rapidly integrated
into required technical support positions.
Economically - Once again, when dealing in grosses and parts thereof one
has the advantage of non-repeating factorability. Similarly, in practical
accounting, there are distinct advantages to being able to divide cleanly by
3.
Scientifically - Ok, maybe there is no strong advantage here, but I
really see no disadvantage either. Since science is almost always dealing
with unreal or extended fractional numbers anyway, base 12 is as good as base 10
and it does have the minor advantage of decreasing the overall size of the
numbers involved (1000000 base 12 = 2985984 base 10).
Canonically? - The "Bird of Prey" stolen by the balding, pudgy
nameless one had "a crew of 12" (though I believe this is the only
ship class with a base 12 compliment)
Input,
argument, death threats, deification?
Thanks.
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