Without thinking about it, if you were to indicate the number three using your fingers, how would you do it?
Strangely enough, we don’t all do this the same.
While at a friend’s house a while ago, someone asked O a question that I don’t really remember and the answer was “3″. Instead of responding in words, he held up three fingers. But, what 3 fingers did he hold up?
These
This started a bit of a discussion because his wife, who’s from Romania, doesn’t use those three fingers if she wants to indicate the number three. Instead, she uses these
I then had to throw my two cents in because I always use these three
So, is it a cultural difference? The two Italians do it one way, the Romanian another and the American a third. I know when O wants to indicate the number 1, he always uses his thumb while I use my index finger. I didn’t think to ask my friend if she uses her pinkie finger, but it’s quite possible considering her choices for number 3.
If you count on your fingers from one to five, where do you start? I start with my index finger and my thumb is number five. O starts with his thumb and his pinkie is number five.
Of course, this is not an earth-shattering observation, but it is interesting.
How do you show the number “3″?
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My Italian and I have had the very same conversation. I must say, their way of counting makes sense, but old habits are hard to break and I still start with the index finger =)
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It’s interesting because I do number 3 the way you do, but the number 5 the way O does it, starting with my thumb. Maybe it’s because I’m Italian-American:)
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I’ve had this conversation quite a bit, but never with a Romanian! Interesting!
I’m like you and P is like O except now I do the Italian “tre” (and “due” with the thumb and index finger…I’d normally make a peace sign) just b/c it’s more easily understood if I’m ordering something at the market, for example.
My excuse is baseball…when umpires show balls and strikes they start with the index finger
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Of course now that I wrote that about baseball I’m questioning my memory! Hmm……
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We’ve discussed this, too, although I don’t do THREE like most Americans. In fact, my mom complained that I “ruined” my nephew’s three. I do it like you guys say the Italians do it, but it came from when I studied American Sign Language – and stuck. Pep and his family don’t do it that way, but like the Romanian woman you were talking to.
Interesting!
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I do the American way starting with the index finger. Hubby however starts with his thumb like the Italians. I always ask him why and says it’s a habit.
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