The Pirahã language, spoken by a small group of indigenous people living along the Maici River in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, is one of the most extraordinary languages in the world. The number of its speakers is estimated at only a few hundred, and their culture and language have remained almost entirely isolated from outside influences for centuries. This isolation has allowed the Pirahã language to retain many unique features that continue to astonish linguists and anthropologists worldwide.
The issue of numerals
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Pirahã language is the absence of numerals, not even a word for “one.” Instead, the Pirahã use descriptive terms such as “a little” or “a lot,” meaning they do not think in terms of precise numbers. In practice, this means that in the Pirahã culture, there is no mathematics as we know it, nor is there a concept of counting in our sense of the word.
The lack of numerals in the Pirahã language clearly affects their ability to track the quantity of objects. Linguistic experiments have shown that when Pirahã individuals were shown several objects, such as stones, and then these objects were removed, they struggled to determine precisely how many objects were originally present. This limited ability to handle numbers highlights a strong connection between language and world perception.
What about colours in Pirahã?
Another unique feature of the Pirahã language is the absence of names for specific colors. Instead, they use descriptive expressions, such as “blood” for red or “leaves” for green. In their culture, colors do not function as abstract concepts but are always associated with specific objects in their surroundings.
These exceptional characteristics of the Pirahã language lead to a fascinating question: Does language influence how its speakers perceive reality? Researchers have long pondered whether the Pirahã culture shapes the language or whether the language itself influences their perception of numbers and colors. This is a perfect example of how complex and interrelated the connection between language, thought, and culture can be.
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