The Pirahã Challenge

Overview

• Daniel and Keren Everett began studying the Pirahã language in 1977.
• They aimed to teach the Pirahã to count and read, which stemmed from villagers' interest in preventing trade exploitation.

Cultural and Linguistic Observations

• The Pirahã language lacks counting and color terms, seen as fundamental by modern linguistic standards.
• Cultural beliefs shape Pirahã language and communication.
  • Language focuses on immediate experience and personal knowledge.
  • No abstract concepts or distant temporal references are used.

Unique Linguistic Features

• Grammar
  • Lacks words for numbers and quantities (e.g., "all," "many," "few").
  • No standard words for colors; uses descriptive phrases instead.
  • Rarely uses pronouns, only two tenses, and limited kinship terms.
  • No recursion: Sentences do not combine clauses.
• Communication Style
  • Heavy use of singing, whistling, and humming alongside spoken words.
  • Rich emotional expression through intonation variations.

Educational Attempt Outcomes

• The Everetts’ attempts to teach counting and literacy were unsuccessful.
  • Students did not grasp basic arithmetic or reading.
  • Motivation for attendance was social interaction and enjoyment.

Linguistic Controversies

• Disagreement exists about the meaning of certain words.
  • Everett argues words thought to be numbers are not quantity terms.
  • Color naming tests showed misinterpretation between researchers.
• Everett's thesis challenges the universality of common grammatical rules.
  • Suggests cultural values influence language structure.
• Debate over whether Pirahã language truly lacks recursion.

Academic Reactions

• Mixed academic responses to Everett's findings, from supportive to skeptical.
  • Some linguists regard recursion as essential; Pirahã seen as an exception.
  • Others suggest missing grammatical elements might be discovered with more study.

Conclusion

• Everett posits that more languages could share fundamental differences if studied deeply.
• Suggests a push for documentation and preservation of diverse languages.

This lecture highlights the intricate relationship between language and culture, challenging existing linguistic theories and emphasizing the need to reconsider the variability and richness of human languages.