The contentious issue of finger counting
There have been many things to adapt to for me since moving from France to Australia, and this is the beginning of an attempt to explain.
So this is apparently a cultural thing: I start with the thumb when I count on my fingers, which Christian thinks is an abomination. This image on the right supports my worldview, but not my husband. When I show him my hand with fingers folded to indicate a number, he tells the number back to me minus the thumb. Always. So our exchanges go like this:
Christian: ‘How many?’
Me: showing thumb, index and middle finger (which equals 3 if you’re with me).
Christian: ’2 then.’
Me: ‘No! 3!’
Christian (grinning): ‘Ok, 2.’
I refuse to concede and so does he so on it goes, for quite a while. Each and every time we finger count.
(Image is from here).
i learned this when i went to france! i messed up a lot though and would say the number and also use my fingers, so i bet i confused a lot of people.
So how do you finger count now Caroline? I can’t bring myself not to start with the thumb: it hurts my brain!
I must be French then. Seriously, it’s really difficult any other way! My opposable thumb bangs into all my other fingers if it’s not the first one sticking out!
Fifi, use your influence as a kinder teacher to make the next generation of Australian children count the thumb first! We can do this!!
Now I’m intrigued too. Must have Christian count for me next time we meet!
[...] least this is not contentious like finger counting at our house. Tagged with: French, [...]
When I’m counting, I’ll definitely use my thumb, but when I’m ordering something in a bar, I don’t. Maybe it has to do with the fact that my hand is facing towards me when I’m counting and away from me when I’m ordering?
All I know is that I would’ve gotten shot too, had I been cast in Inglourious Basterds…
We were just watching it again 2 nights ago! I tried folding my fingers to make 3 the English way and it hurts… Can’t do it.
The first time we watched it though, I immediately turned to Christian and said: ‘Oh no, that was contentious finger counting! Something bad is going to go down!’ – and I was right for once (usually films take me by surprise, except when they’re exceptionally bad like The Wolfman, in which I predicted the ending correctly half-way through).
I’m personally boring, I finger count the same way whether my hand is facing away or towards me :)
I double checked and as it turns out, I’m weird. Apparently I always count using my thumb (no matter which way my hand is facing), but when I’m showing numbers to other people, I only use my thumb to make a five.
For me, the German three is hardest to do. My pinky and ring finger just don’t seem to enjoy being forced into that particular position.