Saraveca language
Encyclopedia
Saraveca is an extinct Arawakan language
once spoken in Bolivia
by the Sarave. It is said to be the only language with a numeral system
based exclusively on five, though in fact quinary
systems are not uncommon. To some extent this is also an areal feature of other South America
n languages; many form their numbers 6–9 as "five + one", "five + two" and so on.
Arawakan languages
Macro-Arawakan is a proposed language family of South America and the Caribbean based on the Arawakan languages. Sometimes the proposal is called Arawakan, in which case the central family is called Maipurean....
once spoken in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
by the Sarave. It is said to be the only language with a numeral system
Numeral system
A numeral system is a writing system for expressing numbers, that is a mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set, using graphemes or symbols in a consistent manner....
based exclusively on five, though in fact quinary
Quinary
Quinary is a numeral system with five as the base. A possible origination of a quinary system is that there are five fingers on either hand. The base five is stated from 0-4...
systems are not uncommon. To some extent this is also an areal feature of other South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n languages; many form their numbers 6–9 as "five + one", "five + two" and so on.