Numerals in Sa

The numeral systems of the Sa language from the southern part of Pentecost Island show considerable dialectal variation. This variation is partly influenced by the division between those villages where Christianity is well established and a cluster of about 12 villages on the south-east where people adhere to a traditionalist ideology known as kastom (in Bislama). In addition to an imperfect decimal counting system, speakers of Sa in kastom villages still retain relictual knowledge about a decimal counting system which is believed to have been replaced by the current imperfect decimal system. In addition, Sa speakers in kastom villages also use an object specific counting system for money. Other relictual decimal counting systems in neighbouring languages are also discussed. Adherence to kastom ideology appears to have played a role in the retention of old counting systems and the development of a new system used for currency.