All languages I know of have four basic directions: left, right, backwards and forwards. Are there any that don't?

Maybe you could have just three: forwards, backwards-left and backwards-rigth? Or more then four, maybe with distinct names for some or all of the four in-between the common ones

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[–] 3 points 3 months ago* (4 children)

What does basic mean here? I feel everything hinges on that. Radians claim π/2, π/3, π/4, π/6 are all basic, so they have 16 basic directions. A compass has one, maybe 2 basic directions. When discussing locations it's very common to say northeast, southwest etc, so I'd say there are 8 basics in those terms.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    Humans have bilateral symmetry and forward-facing eyes so we naturally have four basic directions.

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