universal concepts

Upon further thought concerning the efficiency of human communication, I realized the distinction given to numbers, with their unique character set, is seemingly arbitrary.  I suppose it was simple to make a universal language for numbers, or rather more simple than making a universal language for everything else we try to communicate.

It is ultimately more efficient to have a universal language of communication, but the breadth and depth of language and its level of entrainment within society makes the selection and conversion to such rather difficult.  So, it is understandable that a single, universal language has yet to develop.  It is also interesting that numerical values have yet managed to achieve this.  Perhaps this is due to the necessity of trade for survival, and how essential numbers are to such a function.

Regardless, my initial premise was that there is no need for numbers to be represented in an alternative character set to the rest of our language.  This fact makes me wonder what other concepts or ideas could be represented in an alternative, universal character set..