GHANA JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND TEACHING Ghajet Vol. 11, November 2010 Ghajet Vol. 11, November 2010 © Ghana Journal of Education and Teaching, (GHAJET) 2005 ISBN 0855 4064 . All Correspondence to: The Editor-in-Chief Ghana Journal of Education and Teaching Centre for Educational Policy Studies University of Education P. O. Box 25 Winneba, Ghana . Tel: +233 (0) 20 8155491,0246758473 Subscription rates: In Ghana Outside Ghana Subscription Rates. Gh ¢ 7.00 $20,00 Printed by: Payless Publication Limited Amakom-Kumasi, Ghana. Tel: 0244 636851 ii Ghajet Vol. 11. November 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Testing the Stigler Hypothesis in Economics: the Empirics from College of Technology Education, Ghana By Isaac Addai ; , '" 01 I Governmental Role In The Provision Of Quality Education By: Paul Kwadwo Addo, ; ; ~ ~ 10 An Appraisal of The Middle Basic Education Curriculum In French As A Tool For Sustainable Development In An Age Of Globalization By Carol. C. Opara : ~ 17 Decentralisation and the Management of Basic Schools: A Critical Analysis of the Management of the Capitation Grant Scheme in Ghana By Ato Essuman and Cynthia Efua Bosomtwi-Sam : '" .33 Spelling- In- Parts As A Strategy For Pronunciation Of English Poly-Syllabic Words By David O. Fakeye (Ph.D) '" 49 A Philosophical Appraisal of Rousseau's Child-Centred Education By Elijah Okon John (Ph.D) ; .57 School and Cluster-Based In-service Training for Teachers in Ghana: Participation; Views and Teaching Skills By Prof Joseph Ghartey Ampiah '" ; , 65 Students' Perception of Mathematics and Their Performance In The Subject: Implications For Counselling In Cross River State, 'Nigeria , , , By Onete U. Onete (Ph.D) & Ekpang Pauline (Mrs) 85. An Appraisal Of The Middle Basic Education Curriculum In French As A Tool For Sustainable Development In An Age Of Globalization By Carol. C.Opara (Ph.DiSenior Lecturer) 93 Effects of Emotional Intelligence Training and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Teaching xi Ghajet Vol. 11, November 2010 .Self-Efficacy of Career-frustrated Teachers in Ondo State, Nigeria By Aremu, A~.Oyesoji, Adeyemo, D.A, Akomolafe, M Jude '" 109 ..Repositioning 'Town and Gown' Relationship for Sustainable National Development .'in Nigeria: Implications for Adult and Non-Formal Education By A. A. Sarumi, Ph.D and K. 0. Ojokheta, (Ph.D) : : 125 .Global Knowledge Economy: The Challenges For Industrial Education In Nigeria By Hassan, ·Moshood Ayinde . .(Ph.D) .....................................•......................... ~ 140 \ .Workers' Education and Socio- Economic Development in Developing Countries: Reflections on the Nigerian Experience . By Kester, Kehinde Oluwaseun (Ph.D), and Ogunyinka, Kehinde Olayiwola 152 Predictors of Sustainable Rural Development in Developing Economies By Jonathan E. Oghenekohwo, PhD and Olufimmilayo .0. lyunade (Ph.D) 163 Promoting Historical Studies In Adult And Non - Formal Education Using Information Communication Technology By Dr. Abidole SARUkD, ; ; ' ~ 173 ..Challenges and New Horizons In The Use Of Nigerian Languages For Instruction In Schools By Abiodun Okediran Ph.D. and Samson Olusola OLATUNJI.. 183 An Investigation into Factors Influencing the Choice Business Education In Two Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria By Obijole Esther Foluke ..:., 199 Socio-economic Status influencing Mate Selection for Marriage among Prospective Partners in Ibadan, Nigeria. By Thomas G. Adegoke, Ph.D ~ 207 Proposal For AYoruba Decimal Counting System By Adeyemi Abiodun Adeyinka Ph.D ; 221 .Vocational Education and A Sustainable Economy In .Ido, Akinyele And Ibadan North Local Government of'OyoState, Nigeria xii Ghajet Vol. 11, November 2010. By Deborah A. Egunyomi, Ph.D 236 Perception of Pregnant Women on Voluntary Counseling And HN Testing In Antenatal Clinic JnNigeria By Felicia Oluwafemi Aibinuomo ADHE and Olasupo Olutoyin Ladeji 246 Relevance of Global isation and Personnel Re-Engineering For Effective Open And Distance Learning In Nigeria By 'Biyi .A. Adelakun 259 The relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and performance of pre-service teacher interns By Stephen Jobson Mitchual.Francis Donkor and Cecilia Quansah 268 xiii Ghajet Vol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) Proposal for a Yoruba Decimal Counting System Adeyemi Abiodun Adeyinka (Ph.D.) Department Of Teacher Education University Of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria duvem2001 @vah oo.com Abstract Human activities involve the use o f numbers everyday but there are only few explanations on how numbers came into existence. The Yoruba traditional number system, unlike other languages, employs the use o f addition, multiplication and subtraction which makes calculation complex, complicated and cumbersome. This has led many users-elites, traders, school children and the educated-to abandon its use. Today, alternative ways are being sought to Yoruba traditional counting and this paper presents the decimal number system and how to count in it up to one million with ease. It eliminates the subtractive numerals thus making counting in Yoruba easy and straight forward. Introduction The Yorubas are people predominantly resident in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. They effectively occupy Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos States and parts o f Kwara, Kogi and \Edo States. Apart from Nigeria, the Yoruba people can be found in other parts of West African sub-region of Republic o f Benin, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire and in the Caribbean and South American countries o f Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil (Atanda, 1996; Alade, 1997; Olatunji, 2000). The existence of the Yoruba race dates back early in man’s history and its etymology is shrouded in mystery (Atanda, 1980; Olowookere & Adewole, 1998). There are various submissions, mostly oral, on the fact that Oduduwa is the progenitor of the Yoruba, hence the appellation ‘Omo Oduduwa’ (child of Oduduwa). It is also believed that Ile-Ife was the cradle of the Yoruba because of the belief in oral and written records by some schools of thought that it was the place where Oduduwa landed when he was coming to earth (Ojo, 1971) It is a truism that the name Yoruba was not arrived at suddenly but there is no specific record of submission on how and when it came into existence. Hair (1967), however, 221 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A Adeyinka (Ph.D) points out that Yoruba and all its variants (Yariba, Yoruba, etc) seem to be the most difficult to identify among all the languages in its sub-group. The language has been intensively studied since 1819 when Bowdich published the numerals he collected in Ashanti two years earlier (Williamson, 1989). Awoniyi(1978), however, records that it was a loan word from Hausa. The currently used Yoruba numerical system is non-decimal It is, according to Armstrong (1962) and Longe (1997) vigesimal. This means that it uses a number base of twenty. At the time the vigesimal number was invented, there was no system of writing in Yorubaland. Knowledge was transmitted by oral tradition only. The vigesimal number system, according to the account of Longe, was invented by Orunmila because there are altogether twenty fingers and toes on the hands and feet of a person and these could conveniently be used for counting. Longe’s submission must have been premised on a similar explanation offered by Johnson (1921). Review of the Related Literature An attempt shall be made to make a brief review of previous attempts by researchers on traditional numerals in Hausa and Igbo, two of the three major Nigerian Languages recognised by the constitution of Nigeria. These Nigerian languages (Hausa and Igbo) also had traditional ways of numeration before they adopted the decimal system of numeration. It was observed that the old or traditional system of numeration had subtractive numerals which made counting complex and cumbersome especially at higher numerals. Counting in Hausa The units, tens, hundreds and thousands in Hausa are conventional and are pronounced thus in the old or traditional system as observed by Lowry and Eleanor (1966)’ Mohammed, Sanusi, Ibrahim and Sabitu (2001). Units Tens Hundreds Thousands 1. daya 10 goma 100 dari 1,000 dubu, alif 2. biyu 20ashirin 200 metin/metan 2,000 alfyan, alfin 3. uku 30 talatin 300 dari uku 3,000 talata 4. hudu 40 arba’in 400 arbaninya 4,000 arba 5. biya 50 hams in 500 hamsaminya 5,000 hamsa 6. shida 60 sittin 600 dari shida 6,000 sitta 7. bakwai 70 saba’in 700 dari bakwai 7,000 saba’a 8. takwas 80 tamanin 800 daritakwas 8,000 tamaniy 9. tara 90 tis’in/casa’i 900 dari tara 9,000 dubhi tara/zamabar tara From the table above, it could be observed that some numbers (300, 600, 700, 800 and 900, which are in hundreds, employ multiplication which signifies that these numbers are derived by multiplying one hundred by three, six, seven, eight and nine respectively in the traditional system. 222 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A Adeyinka (Ph.D) Meanwhile, Hausa numerals employ addition numbers from 11 to 17, 21 to 27, 31 to 37 etc by the use of ‘‘sha” and “da”. Sha is used only for figures 11 to 17 but all numbers above 20 employ ‘‘da” rather than “sha” (Kraft and Kirk-Green, 1973). For example: 11 Goma sha daya (10 + 1) 12 Goma sha biyu (10 + 2) 17 Goma sha bakwai (10 + 7) 21 Ashirin da daya (20 + 1) 36 Talatin da shida (80 + 6) In the case of 18, 19, 28, 29, 38, 39 and other numbers in tens, Hausa language employs subtractive numerals hence: 18 Ashirin biyu babu (2 0 -2 ) 19 Ashirin daya babu (2 0 -1 ) 28 Talatin biyu babu (3 0 -2 ) 39 Arba’in daya babu (4 0 -1 ) In the modem Hausa number system, there is an inclusion of zero, the exclusion and replacement of the subtraction and simple multiplication of the remaining old numbers in the hundreds. This new system of numeration in Hausa eliminates the old names given to some numbers and makes counting easier. Numbers 1 to 17 retain their old names while numbers 18 to 29 in the new Hausa system is as follows: 18 Goma sha takwas (10 + 8) 19 Goma sha tara (10 + 9) 20 Ashirin 21 Ashirin da daya (20 + 1) 24 Ashirin da hudu (20 + 4) 27 Ashirin da bakwai (20 + 7) 29 Ashirin da tara (20 + 9) The numbers in hundreds in the new Hausa counting system will now be in multiples of one hundred thus: 100 Dari 200 Dari biyu (100x2) 300 Dari uku (100x3) 400 Dari hudu (100x4) 500 Dari biyar (100x5) In the thousands, Hausa number system also employs multiplication in the new counting thereby eliminating the old names thus: 223 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) 1.000 Dubu 2.000 Dubu biyu (1,000 x 2) 3.000 Dubuuku (1,000x3) 6.000 Dubushida (1,000x6) 9.000 Dubu tara (1,000 x 9) Counting in Igbo The scope of Igbo numeral, according to Ogbalu (1974) and Dom-Anyanwu (2001), is limited. This is because in their original primitive society, the Igbos did not need to count a vast row of things ranging up to millions as in modem times. After a number of nnus (400s), they merely regard other things as uncountable or aguts - onu nnu, nnu, kwuru nnu. Igbo traditional counting system was 10 - based up to twenty and 20 - based up to four hundred which was the highest single number possible in the system. The significant landmarks in the traditional system were out/ofu “one”, ogu “twenty” and nnu “four hundred”. However, through an intricate manipulation of these numbers with others in the system, it was possible to express some high numbers (Emenanjo, 1978). For example: 160,100 = nnu, nnu na ogu iri (i.e. 400 x 400 + 100) but tins process was not only demanding, it was replete with ambiguities and many inadequacies. For instance: Nnu nnu na ogu iri na isii could be either 160, 106 or 160, 320 On account of the limitation in the Igbo numeral system regarding extci.*. ambiguity and confusion between certain numbers, a system of counting in tens only, known as Igbometric system (Ogbalu, 1974) is now being used. The modern Igbo numeral is further preferable to the old system in order to cope with the requirements of the modem technological world and decimalize it. The first nine numerals are: 1. Otu - (ofu) 2. Abua - (abua: ibua) 3. Ato - (ito : eto) 4. Ano - (ino : eno) 5. Ise - (iso) 6. Isii 7. Asaa - (isaa: esaa) 8. Asato - (isato : esato) 9. Iteghete - (itenaani: itoolu : toolu) 224 Ghajet Vol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) ms in the modem Igbo numerals goes thus: 10 Iri(ili) 20 Iri abuo (10x2) 30 Iri ato (10x3) 40 Iri awo (10x4) 50 Iri ise (10x5) 60 Iri isii (10x6) 70 Iri asaa (10x7) 80 Iri asato (10x8) 90 Iri iteghete (10x9) hundreds, modem Igbo numerals will be: 100 Nnari 200 Nnai abuo (100x2) 300 Nnari ato (100x3) 400 Nnari ano (100x4) 500 Nnari ise (100 x 5) 600 Nnari iteghete (100x9) To count in thousands in Igbo, we have: 1.000 (Otu)Puku 2.000 Puku abuo (1,000 x 2) 3.000 Pukuato (1,000x3) 6.000 Puku Isii (1,000x6) The numbers in between are derived by mere calculation with the use of “naO which means “in addition toO. The landmarks of the modem Igbo decimal system are: Otu (Ofii) - One Iri(ili) Ten Nnari - Hundred Puku - One Thousand Nde - One Million Ijeri - One Billion Thus, the modern Igbo numeral system is a spectacular improvement on the traditional one. This is because one can express very high numbers through a combination o f the landmarks in the system together with other numerals. Yoruba Traditional Numerals The first ten numbers in Yoruba are basic numerals because they are the commonest and most often used (Armstrong, 1962). There are four principal series of Yoruba numerals, according to Armstrong’s classification. 225 GhajetVoI. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) Cardinal Counting Adjectival Ordinal 1. okan Ookan/eni kan ekinni 2 . eji Eeji meji ekeji 3. eta Eeta meta eketa 4. erin Eerin merin ekerin 5. arun Aarun-un marun-un ekarun-un 6 . efa Eefa mefa ekefa ' 7. eje Eeje meje ekeje 8. ejo Eejo mejo ekejo 9. esan Eesan-an mesan-an ekesan-an 10. ewa Eewaa mewaa ekewaa While addition and multiplication are the only operations used in counting in English, Yoruba use addition, subtraction and multiplication. For example, words used for the numerals form 11 to 14 are compound words which are formed by adding the appropriate to ten thus: 11. okanla - Ookanla (1 + 10) ookan le ewa - one added to ten 12. ejila - Eejila (2 + 10) eeji le ewa - two added to ten 13. etala - Eetala (3 + 10) eeta le ewa - three added to ten 14. erinla - Eerinla (4 + 10) eerin le ewa - four added to ten The ‘laa’ is a contraction of ‘lewaa’ which is itself a contraction of 7e ewa' (i.e. plus ten’). The same thing applies to all the figures reckoned by tens. The numerals 15 to 19 are reckoned by subtraction thus: 15. eedogun (5 from 20) aarun-un din ogun - five less twenty 16. eerindinlogun (4 from 20) eerin din ogun - four less twenty 17. eetadinlogun (3 from 20) eeta din ogun - three less twenty 18. eejidinlogun (2 from 20) eeji din ogun - two less twenty 19. ookandinlogun - (1 from 20) ookan din ogun - one less twenty Apart from the alternate application of addition and subtraction, multiplication and subtraction are also alternatively applied in distinguishing between even and old bases from 40 up to 180. The even tens are formed by multiplying 20 by 2, 3, 4 etc thus: 40 ogoji (20 x 2) two twenties 60 ogota (20 x 3) three twenties 80 ogorin (20 x 4) four twenties While the odd tens are formed by contracted subtraction often from the next higher even ten thus: 226 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 ' A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) 50 - aadota (20 x 3-10) ewa din ogun meta - ten less three twenties 70 - aadorin (20 x 4-10) ewa din ogun merin - ten less four twenties 90 - aadorun-un (20 x 5-10) ewa din ogun marun-un - ten five twenties Counting from one hundred to three thousand in Yoruba traditional system goes thus: 100 - ogorun-un (20 x 5) ogun marun-un 200 - igba 300 - oodunrun 400 - irinwo 500 - eedegbeta (200 x 3 = 100) ogorun-un din igba meta hundred less three two hundreds 600 - egbeta (200 x 3) igba meta three two hundreds 700 - eedegberin (200 x 4 - 100) ogorun-un din igba merin hundred less four two hundreds 800 - egberin (200 x ) igba merin four two hundreds 900 - eedegberun (200 x 5 - 100) ogorun-un din igba marun-un hundred less five two hundreds 1.000 - egberun (200 x 5) igba mewaa ten two hundreds 2.000 - egbewa / egbaa (200 x 10) ten two hundreds 3.000 - egbeedogun (200 x 15) igba meedogun fifteen two hundreds It would be discovered that some numerals have their traditional names as we can see in 200, 300 and 400. They are root words whose etymology is unknown. While some numerals are derived by multiplying the multiplicand (200) by a certain unit of number, some are derived the same way but by subtracting 100. In counting in thousands in Yoruba, we have: 4.000 - egbaaji (2,000 x 2) 5.000 - eedegbaata (2 ,0 0 0 x 3 - 1,000) 6.000 - egbaata (2,000 x 3) 7.000 - eedegbaarin (2,000 x 4) 8.000 - egbaarin (2,000 x 4) 9,000 - eedegbaarun (2,000 x 5 - 1,000) 10, 000 - egbaarun-un (2,000 x 5) There is now the need for much larger integers such as 1,000,000 and 1,000,000,000 which for lack of traditional names, are called ‘milionu kan’ and ‘bilionu kan’ which are adaptations from English. Opinions differ among scholars as to what names to give these numbers. Fafimwa (1989) offers two suggestions : using the Yoruba version if ‘milionu kan’ or the word ‘okerun-un mewaa’ (i.e. 20,000 x 5 x 10) which can be contracted to Okerun-unwaa’. The first suggestion seems to have a wider acceptance. He was, however, silent over what one billion should be called. 227 a« jetV ol. ll.Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) (The Yoruba vigesimal number system becomes very complicated as one gets into higher numbers. This is due to the complications of arithmetical processes involved in the use o f the numbers. While it is true that three of the four fundamental arithmetical operations- addition, subtraction and multiplication are used, they way they are applied and the various changes in the morphological shape of the number that accompany the derived words for the numbers have always been the major problem (Omole, 1997). Today most educated Yoruba have abandoned the use of the Yoruba traditional counting system. They now carry out their counting and accounting in English thus placing the ordinary Yoruba man and woman at a serious disadvantage because they are not numerate in English language. Fakinlede (2001, 2006) submits that the traditional numeral in Yoruba is complex and this has made it difficult to use as a tool tor communication of science and in everyday life. It is obvious that man cannot do without counting and if the Yoruba system of counting is simplified, it will help to regain the lost ground in Yoruba counting. Nowadays, market men and women have got an alternative way of counting to prove that the Yoruba traditional numeral system is complex, complicated and cumbersome. The image of a former military Head of State in Nigeria, the Late General Murtala Muhammed, which is on the Nigerian twenty naira has become a yardstick for counting. The prefix in the name ‘Murtala’ (Muri) is now being used in counting in multiples of ■ twenty in Yoruba. Hence, we hear: Murikan - (20 x 1) for twenty naira Muri meji - (20 x 2) for forty naira Muri marun-un - (20 x 5) for one hundred naira Muri mejo - (20 x 8) for one hundred and sixty naira What the escape route portends is that Yoruba people realize the indispensability of numerals is spite of its complexities hence the need to have an easier way of counting and accounting in the language. The Decimal Number System in Yoruba The efforts of Armstrong (1962), Olutoye (1981), Bamgbose (1986), Longe (1997) and Fakinlede (2001, 2003, 2006) in proffering solution to the basic problem in indigenous Yoruba calculus cannot go unmentioned. Scholars are still offering suggestions and carrying out studies that will end this lingering challenge in Yoruba studies. Armstrong suggests counting that eliminates subtraction in Yoruba. He retains the old names in first ten numerals and suggests new names for counting in tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands and one hundred thousands. It should, however, be noted that Armstrong’s study did not totally eliminate the Yoruba traditional system of counting because he retains 20 (ogun) and 30 (ogbon) in their old forms, thus making his proposal a subject of controversy. Olutoye (1981) recognises and points out the different ways the mass media express higher Yoruba traditional numerals especially during budget presentation. She observes 128 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinlca (Ph.D) that any numeral above a thousand poses a problem to both literates and illiterates today. She recounts the traditional way of numeration and suggests a modem way of numeration. She proposes eight segments of counting and gives names to each as: 1 -10 eyo (she retains the old way of counting) 10-100 ewa de ogorun-un 100 ogoogorun-un 1,000 egbeegberun 10,000 oru 100,000 koto 1,000,00 odu 1,000,000,000 - agba Olutoye also eliminates the subtractive and multiplicative numerals in her proposal and suggests only addition. This paper, however, discovers that her proposal still retains the old forms of counting 20, 30, 40 up till 100. The greatest challenge of Olutoye’s proposals is that higher numerals would be very lengthy when pronouncing them, for example: 120,440 - koto kan, oru meji, ogorun-un merin ati ogoji 3,248 - egberun meta, ogorun-un meji o le ogoji ati mejo Bamgbose (1986) only explains how best to eliminate the subtractive numerals from eleven to nineteen. He suggests that we add the lower numerals to base ten to derive our new numeral thus: 11 - okanla 12 - ejila 15 - arunla 18 - ejola 19 - esanwa Longe (1997) offers two ways of counting - counting in tens in which he gives examples up to ninety and counting in twenties in which he gives examples up to one hundred and eighty. He did not disclose what one hundred will be if we count in tens. Will it be “ewawa”? What will we call one hundred and ten and other numerals in multiples of ten? Longe also eliminates all vigesimal counting names while counting in multiples of ten but retains them while counting in multiples of twenty. Fakinlede (2001, 2003, 2006) also proposes new names for segments of Yoruba. He recognizes zero and adopts addition and multiplication of Yoruba numerals thus: 10 - idikan 100 - apo kan 1,000 - okekan 1,000,000 - odukan 229 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) 1.000. 000.000 - eeru kan 1.000. 000.000.000 - oke eeru kan This proposal, as good and practicable as it is, did not explain how to count lower numerals and numerals in between the segments. Another challenge that this model poses is that counting in higher numerals will be lengthy as identified in Olutoye’s model. Based on these proposals, Adeyinka (2005) attempted to offer a simpler way o f decimal counting in Yoruba which this paper examines. The decimal number system in Yoruba will eliminate the use of subtraction in the numeral and give new names to some root numbers in order to allow for decimation. The first ten numbers will retain their names while zero, which, though implied yet not added at the beginning of any numeral, will be added and called thus: 0 - Ofo / odo 1 - Ookan / eni 2 - Eeji 3 - • Eeta 4 - Eerin 5 - Aarun-un 6 - Eefa 7 - Eeje 8 - Eejo 9 - Eesan-an 10 - - Eewaa From 11 to 19, there will be simple addition thus: 11 Ookanla (10+1) 12 Eejila (10 + 2) 13 Eetala (10 + 3) 14 Eerinla (10 + 4) 15 Aarunla (10 + 5) 16 - Eefala (10 + 6) 17 Eejela (10 + 8) 18 Eejo la (10 + 8) 19 Eesanla (10 + 9) In counting in tens up to one hundred, the decimal Yoruba numerals will be 10 - Eewaa 20 - Eewaaji (10x2) 30 Eewaata (10x3) 40 - Eewaarin (10x4) 50 - Eewaarun-un (10x5) 230 Ghajet Vol. 11. Nov. 2010 A A Adeyinka(Ph.D) 60 Eewaafa (10x6) 70 - Eewaaje (10x7) 80 - Eewaajo (10x8) 90 - Eewaasa-an (10x9) 100 - Orun Counting in hundreds following the modern system o f counting in Yoruba would be: 100 - Orun 200 - Orunji (100x2) 300 - Orunta (100 x 3) 400 - Orunrin (100x4) 500 - Orunrun-un (100x5) 600 - Orunfa (100x6) 700 Orunje (100x7) 800 - Orunjo (100x8) 900 - Orunsan-an (100 x 9) 1,000 - Orunwaa (100x10) When counting in thousands, following the decimal system, we would have: 1,000 - Orunwaa 2,000 - Orunwaaji (orunwaa meji) 3,000 - Orunwaata (orunwaa meta) 4,000 Orunwaarin (orunwaa merin) 5,000 - Orunwaarun-un (orunwaa marun-un) 6,000 - Orunwaafa (orunwaa mefa) 7,000 - Orunwaafa (orunwaa mefa) 8,000 - Orunwaajo (orunwaa mejo) 9,000 - Orunwaasan-an (orunwaa mesan-an) 10,000 - Orunwaawaa (orunwaa mewaa) Having got a landmark name for 1,000 (orunwaa), we can now being to multiply by number we want to derive. Hence, to name numerals in tens of thousands we have: 10,000 - Orunwaawaa (orunwaa mewaa) 20,000 - . Orunwaa eewaaji 30,000 Orunwaa eewaata 40,000 - Orunwaa eewaarin 50,000 - Orunwaa eewaarun-un 60,000 - Orunwaa eewaafa 70,000 - Orunwaa eeaaje 80,000 - Orunwaa eewaajo 90,000 Orunwaa eewaasan-an 100,000 - Orunwaa orun 231 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) The next stage or multiple of counting in the Yoruba decimal number system is in one hundred thousands which goes thus: 100,000 - Orunwaa orun 200,000 - Orunwaa orunki 300,000 - Orunwaa orunta 400,000 - Orunwaa orunrin 500,000 - Orunwaa orunrun-un 600,000 - Orunwaa orunfa 700,000 - Orunwaa orunje 800,000 - Orunwaa orunjo 900,000 - Orunwaa orunsan-an 1,000,000 - Orunwaa orunwaa From the analysis above, it could be deduced that the decimal system of numeration in Yoruba is much preferable to the vigesimal because it is simple, easy and straight forward. It helps to eliminate subtraction and helps in simple addition thus eliminating completely the fears that the old system has instilled in the minds of people. The study on the Yoruba decimal number system has established the fact that alternative way of numeration is possible. This modem way of counting conforms with what obtains in other languages of the world such as English, French, German, Arabic etc. It is also justified by the fact that the other two of the three major Nigerian languages, Igbo and Hausa, which were formerly using the traditional counting system, have changed to the modern decimal counting system. With the decimal system of counting, learners can learn and carry out calculations to billions with ease once the segments of calculation are understood. Recommendations Based on this study, the following recommendations are offered: (i) There is the need for both the federal and the state governments to ensure that the guidelines of the National Policy on Education (2004) on the use of mother -tongue as a medium of instruction in the early primary school and as a core subject at the secondary level is pursued and enforced. (ii) Yoruba decimal counting system should be introduced into the school curriculum and taught from primary level to senior secondary school level irrespective of students’ socio-economic background. (iii) There is the need for refresher courses for teachers of Yoruba. It is observed that most Yoruba language teachers do not understand the traditional number system of the language and since an alternative and a better way had been proffered in this study, efforts should be made by the Ministry of Education to organize refresher courses for teachers of Yoruba during the holidays. 232 GhajetVol. 11. Nov. 2010 A. A. Adeyinka (Ph.D) (iv) Examining bodies at the secondary level should re-introduce questions on numerals in the final school certificate examinations. This would enable teachers to teach numerals in schools and prepare students for it in examinations. (v) It is hereby recommended that Yoruba decimal numeration system should be introduced into the curriculum of colleges of education and universities offering Yoruba. This should be incorporated into the culture component of Yoruba Studies. Conclusion This paper had served as an eye-opener to the problem of counting in Yoruba and has also indicated the fact that the old system of numeration is fast losing its place in commerce among the Yoruba. Even though people cannot do without counting in a day, Yoruba men and women are devising ways to solve this problem of complex and cumbersome numeration. 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