Why are phone calls cylindrical?
何本か重要な電話をかけ、...
He made several important phone calls and ...
Originally part of this question but separated due to popular? demand.
Why is the counter 本 used in reference to phone calls?
etymology history counters
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
add a comment |
何本か重要な電話をかけ、...
He made several important phone calls and ...
Originally part of this question but separated due to popular? demand.
Why is the counter 本 used in reference to phone calls?
etymology history counters
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
3
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
2
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41
add a comment |
何本か重要な電話をかけ、...
He made several important phone calls and ...
Originally part of this question but separated due to popular? demand.
Why is the counter 本 used in reference to phone calls?
etymology history counters
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
何本か重要な電話をかけ、...
He made several important phone calls and ...
Originally part of this question but separated due to popular? demand.
Why is the counter 本 used in reference to phone calls?
etymology history counters
etymology history counters
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
edited Feb 9 at 22:21
Mathieu Bouville
70617
70617
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
asked Feb 9 at 16:38
user3856370user3856370
13.8k51865
13.8k51865
3
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
2
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41
add a comment |
3
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
2
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41
3
3
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
2
2
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
To be fair, 本 ＝ 「細長いもの」is a really popular explanation (note that is does not imply anything about being round, I think that it is an usual extrapolation due to the fact that physical objects that are long and thin are usually cylindrical).
But many usages actually go against this explanation, or a least do not fall into that classification. Consider the following examples:
- 子どもたちに三本のゲームを買ってきた。
- 彼は三本の新しい企画に取り組んだ。
- 今年は三本のコンサートに行ったよ。
As you can see, you really need to stretch your mind really far to find the thin, long thing here. At least I cannot find them...
I've made some quick research on the topic and there appears to be academical research on that topic (!). Like this one, where they distinguish 6 clusters of words to which 本 applies to.
(for the case of the phone, the "message" coming from letter thing seems plausible though.)
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
add a comment |
Does THIS answer your question?
Seems that there are a number of possible explanations though...
Parts of the phone, or the phone itself were cylindrical
Voice was transmitted via wires (long and thin)
The idea of a "message" where a written letter would be rolled up into a cylinder (letter -> telegraph -> telephone)
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
|
show 5 more comments
Your Answer
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
To be fair, 本 ＝ 「細長いもの」is a really popular explanation (note that is does not imply anything about being round, I think that it is an usual extrapolation due to the fact that physical objects that are long and thin are usually cylindrical).
But many usages actually go against this explanation, or a least do not fall into that classification. Consider the following examples:
- 子どもたちに三本のゲームを買ってきた。
- 彼は三本の新しい企画に取り組んだ。
- 今年は三本のコンサートに行ったよ。
As you can see, you really need to stretch your mind really far to find the thin, long thing here. At least I cannot find them...
I've made some quick research on the topic and there appears to be academical research on that topic (!). Like this one, where they distinguish 6 clusters of words to which 本 applies to.
(for the case of the phone, the "message" coming from letter thing seems plausible though.)
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
add a comment |
To be fair, 本 ＝ 「細長いもの」is a really popular explanation (note that is does not imply anything about being round, I think that it is an usual extrapolation due to the fact that physical objects that are long and thin are usually cylindrical).
But many usages actually go against this explanation, or a least do not fall into that classification. Consider the following examples:
- 子どもたちに三本のゲームを買ってきた。
- 彼は三本の新しい企画に取り組んだ。
- 今年は三本のコンサートに行ったよ。
As you can see, you really need to stretch your mind really far to find the thin, long thing here. At least I cannot find them...
I've made some quick research on the topic and there appears to be academical research on that topic (!). Like this one, where they distinguish 6 clusters of words to which 本 applies to.
(for the case of the phone, the "message" coming from letter thing seems plausible though.)
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
add a comment |
To be fair, 本 ＝ 「細長いもの」is a really popular explanation (note that is does not imply anything about being round, I think that it is an usual extrapolation due to the fact that physical objects that are long and thin are usually cylindrical).
But many usages actually go against this explanation, or a least do not fall into that classification. Consider the following examples:
- 子どもたちに三本のゲームを買ってきた。
- 彼は三本の新しい企画に取り組んだ。
- 今年は三本のコンサートに行ったよ。
As you can see, you really need to stretch your mind really far to find the thin, long thing here. At least I cannot find them...
I've made some quick research on the topic and there appears to be academical research on that topic (!). Like this one, where they distinguish 6 clusters of words to which 本 applies to.
(for the case of the phone, the "message" coming from letter thing seems plausible though.)
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
To be fair, 本 ＝ 「細長いもの」is a really popular explanation (note that is does not imply anything about being round, I think that it is an usual extrapolation due to the fact that physical objects that are long and thin are usually cylindrical).
But many usages actually go against this explanation, or a least do not fall into that classification. Consider the following examples:
- 子どもたちに三本のゲームを買ってきた。
- 彼は三本の新しい企画に取り組んだ。
- 今年は三本のコンサートに行ったよ。
As you can see, you really need to stretch your mind really far to find the thin, long thing here. At least I cannot find them...
I've made some quick research on the topic and there appears to be academical research on that topic (!). Like this one, where they distinguish 6 clusters of words to which 本 applies to.
(for the case of the phone, the "message" coming from letter thing seems plausible though.)
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
answered Feb 9 at 22:39
Nicolas CouvratNicolas Couvrat
34513
34513
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
add a comment |
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
Nice find. The paper is way too difficult for me to read, but I managed to decode the summary table on page 86.
– user3856370
Feb 10 at 9:09
add a comment |
Does THIS answer your question?
Seems that there are a number of possible explanations though...
Parts of the phone, or the phone itself were cylindrical
Voice was transmitted via wires (long and thin)
The idea of a "message" where a written letter would be rolled up into a cylinder (letter -> telegraph -> telephone)
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
|
show 5 more comments
Does THIS answer your question?
Seems that there are a number of possible explanations though...
Parts of the phone, or the phone itself were cylindrical
Voice was transmitted via wires (long and thin)
The idea of a "message" where a written letter would be rolled up into a cylinder (letter -> telegraph -> telephone)
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
|
show 5 more comments
Does THIS answer your question?
Seems that there are a number of possible explanations though...
Parts of the phone, or the phone itself were cylindrical
Voice was transmitted via wires (long and thin)
The idea of a "message" where a written letter would be rolled up into a cylinder (letter -> telegraph -> telephone)
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
Does THIS answer your question?
Seems that there are a number of possible explanations though...
Parts of the phone, or the phone itself were cylindrical
Voice was transmitted via wires (long and thin)
The idea of a "message" where a written letter would be rolled up into a cylinder (letter -> telegraph -> telephone)
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
edited Feb 9 at 17:20
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
answered Feb 9 at 16:43
sazarandosazarando
5,256720
5,256720
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
|
show 5 more comments
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
+1 Looks convincing. I'll wait to see if anyone has other thoughts before accepting though.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:45
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
えっ、わかんない、、、なんで？
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:46
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
@Chocolate Well I assumed the reasoning was that the old-style phone has lots of cylindrical components.
– user3856370
Feb 9 at 16:48
3
3
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
え・・そこ？ 回線を使ってるからかな？と思ってた・・ 電報も「一本」だし。。
– Chocolate♦
Feb 9 at 16:54
1
1
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
昔の手紙が筒に巻いていて、「手紙→電報→電話」という説もありますね
– sazarando
Feb 9 at 17:07
|
show 5 more comments
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3
If you ever encountered a teenage girl, you would know that phone calls can be very loooong. (This said they can be very flat too.)
– Mathieu Bouville
Feb 9 at 19:00
leo.aichi-u.ac.jp/~jiten/pdf/word-vol4/01.pdf
– droooze
Feb 10 at 0:02
2
You might need to forget about "cylindrical" for a moment. 本 has much wider usage as a counter.
– l'électeur
Feb 10 at 0:41