Talk:Abax

Untitled

This article needs more research.

Clearly this article is in conflict with the article Abacus and I think that article needs to be cleaned up to be compatible with this one. Note the inconsistency with the definitions of "Abacus" found at Abacus: Dictionary.com

Softtest123 21:58, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

Correct. This article claims that the abacus clearly does not include sand tables. The abacus article clearly states that the first abacus was a sand table. Further, Abax is merely a Greek word for "sand table" - not a predecessor to the abacus. This is similar to claiming "cha" is a predecessor to "tea" since the Chinese had tea first and they called it cha. That is, of course, ridiculous. It is two names (in two languages) for the same thing - one word much older than the other. So, if there can be no resourced claim that the abax is more than the Greek word for "abacus", then I feel this article should either be deleted or redirected to abacus. However, if I'm entirely wrong and abax is in fact something wholly different than an abacus, then this article needs to be rewritten to explain it as such. -- Kainaw^(what?) 00:41, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Okay, I see what you are saying, but then, how do you account for the differences in definition between "sand table" (abax) and abacus? Clearly, the current accepted definitions of abacus excludes sand tables. An abax was a different thing and was used in a different way from an abacus. In some way, the abacus was a final form of a sand table, hence my statement that the abacus was derived from sand tables.

I have sited references on this. Particularly strong is the The History of Computing Project. What counter references do you offer?

This is a stub, after all, but I believe I have made a case for the initial entry. Clearly more work needs to be done. I needed help with understanding "abax" for a book I am writing and Wikipedia did not help me.

Softtest123 02:03, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

I think this article should be merged into abacus. Pullan's History of the Abacus treats these and similar devices together. Tom Harrison ^Talk 12:27, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

It is my opinion that the History of Computing Project is incorrect in places. Other than their page, I find no other reference that claims "abax" means "dust". All other sources claim it means "dust table". Also, I do not see a place on the History of Computer Project where it says "The Abax was converted into a wholly different thing called an Abacus." It says "The name Abacus derives from the Greek word ABAX meaning table or board covered with dust." - which means it contradicts itself by claiming Abax means "table or board covered with dust". As with the article here on Wikipedia, it is simply saying that the word we know, abacus, is derived from an earlier word, abax. The device changed over time, but all of the devices fall in the abacus family. -- Kainaw^(what?) 17:22, 29 August 2007 (UTC)

Dissussion of Merger of Abax into Abacus

This discussion is continued in Abacus Talk, An Abax is not an Abacus

Softtest123 14:12, 29 August 2007 (UTC)