Re: Byte ordering and array access

Keith Thompson wrote:
Joe Wright <joewwright@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
[...]

Very good Robin. You have nailed it well. Our conventional number system is said to be 'Arabic'. This is not because we might recognize the digit 4 in Arabic, but because numbers are written right to left, low order first with place and value reserved for the concept of zero.


<OT>
Yes, our numbering system is called "Arabic" (or "Hindu-Arabic") --
but it's precisely because the Europeans adopted the system from the
Arabs, including the appearance of the digits.

Google "Hindu-Arabic numbers" for details.

Our confusion over big-endian vs. little-endian numeric
representations probably goes back to the fact that Arabic is written
right-to-left, most European langauges are written left-to-write, but
Europe adopted Arabic numbers without changing the order in which
they're written. (I'm not 100% certain on that last point.)
</OT>

<OT>
If you look at the ten Arabic numerals in Arabic, you will not recognize many if any. And none of it has to do with endianness. That's a Lilliputian thing about eggs and which end of them to open. :-)
</OT>

--
Joe Wright
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
--- Albert Einstein ---
.

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