VMs: Re: VMS numbering systems hypotheses...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi John,

> >Because I suspect that the *encoding* was right-to-left, to my eyes these
> >instances of "-o" and "-9" fall at the *end* of labels.
>
>         Then wouldn't your numbers also be backwards?

I think that the numbering system was originally written left-to-right (and 
stayed that way), but that other letters got reversed purely for the VMS. :-)

>  e, ee, eee would remain your
> 1,2,3 - but four should then be che, followed by ch, ech, eech, eeech and
> eeeech? I could be wrong, but I don't think ch ends words that often - nor
> does 'e' for that matter.

Apparent word endings and startings may be a little misleading as regards 
real word endings and startings - the jury will be out on this for a while, 
and they've ordered sandwiches... :-)

>         If backwards - then o + t + aiin would mean the writer is writing 
> a single
> digit before the tens digit, followed by the 'o' which would seem odd
> numerically wouldn't it? When writing in right to left don't the tens still
> come before the single digits? - so otain should be written taino? (or
> Russian for secret!)... Of course, I'm biased about the 5 ligatures that
> seem to fit fairly well whether i or c stroke!

All I'm trying to do is explain what I see in a way that *might* ultimately 
prove to be true - if you have a better explanation, please share it! :-)

>         Thanks for igniting some thought processes, Nick!

My pleasure! :-)

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....