ENGL300-1: Caitlin Spiller
ENGL300-2: Mary Meadows for 5 pts. extra credit
Due by class time on:
The responses by the whole class are due by class time on:
The text you need to read is here.
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Caitlin Spiller:
In this article linguist Daniel Everett attempts to learn the strange and difficult language of the Piraha, a tribe in Brazil. During his first visit to the tribe they tried to kill Daniel and his family, but he was able to stop them. Daniel spent seven years total living with the Piraha and attempting to learn their language. He found that there are only three pronouns and there is not a past tense. Words associated with time and color are rarely used, and numbers are not often used. There is debate among linguists about the absence of numbers. One linguist stated that they don't comprehend numbers. Everett attempted to teach the Pirahas to count to ten using Portuguese numbers, but none of them ever could. Everett stated that the Piraha peoples are not stupid, because they can communicate with people of neighboring tribes. He states that their language is so sparse because they live in the present and do no need as many words because of this. Names stay relatively the same throughout the tribe. People are given the name of someone they are similar to. There is no art either. As of now no one speaks Piraha as well as Everett, but researchers are attempting to travel and learn as well.
I thought this article was extremely interesting because of the thought of the Piraha's language. The fact that they do not have any subordinate clauses is astounding. I believe that this language would be interesting to learn because of the fact that they do not understand the concept of numbers. In our society numbers are very important, without them a lot of our understanding of things would be absent.
ReplyDeleteReading this article not only enlightened me to the calm approach other cultures have to life, but it also opened my eyes up to language as well. Without language, remembering details itself would not only be an extreme hassle, but next to impossible. Without the use of numbers, referencing to past events becomes in fact, impossible. This tribe chose not to reflect on past experiences. I found this fascinating because through doing this, the elimination of pessimistic living occurs. To live worry free among those who worry equally as minimal as you do would only elicit peaceful living conditions. Right on to the Piraha Tribe!
ReplyDeleteUsing vague quantifiers for a general quantity is incredibly interesting. The fact that the Piraha tribe seems to lacks a complex sense of time as our culture understands it. This was a very helpful article in also examining the tension between linguists on how language works. This article seems to implicate that Whorf was right in his apprehension of how language influences concepts/thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be fascinating. The Piraha's people have a very interesting language. I was shocked to read that they could not count or really gasp counting or the use of numbers. The Piraha's peoples language without structure tell me that language can exist without meaning or structure. I learned that native American communicate by dancing and singing in a foreign tongue that all tribes understand. The Native Americans language is structured by singing and the father drum. Phiraha's language and Native American's universal language lack structure, but can be understood.
ReplyDeleteSince I have always been taught languages that have structure I thought that a language cannot not be a language without it because it would have no meaning. I found it very interesting to read that they could not count or really gasp counting or the use of numbers i thought that This article was interesting because of the thought of the Piraha's language. Since I have always been taught languages that have structure I thought that a language cannot not be a language without it because it would have no meaning. It was very interesting to read that they could not count or really gasp counting or the use of numbers. their method of communication would be very hard for me to understand if I was a linguist.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be very interesting as well. Considering the English language I was amazed at the Piraha's level of intellect considering that their language is so simple compared to ours. I also found it interesting that they took the time to even think about or make the attempt learning to count considering that counting had no impact on their culture. I think it is very important to know about the language of other cultures and to see those other languages grammatical structure. It not only teaches us the importance of Grammar to other but also how complicated yet special our language structure is to us.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting that a tribe can survive and communicate with a language that vague. It blows my mind to think that this language only has three pronouns and has no past tense. This article is also interesting, because of the trouble Everett had with connecting with this tribe. The fact that the tribe tried to kill Everett, yet he did not quit trying.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be very interesting to read! It was hard to grasp the concept that some people do not know how to count or talk in the past. Though I guess being with the same people all the time, you won't have to worry about talking about things in the past because everyone would already know. I like that he went out of his way to learn language that didn't really pertain to anything her knew, and was able to understand what they meant.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be really enlightening. The fact that Everett was almost killed by the Piraha really says something about his desire to learn their language. It is crazy how the Piraha do not speak in past tense and that they only have 3 pronouns. I also found it interesting that they rarely use numbers. I suppose when you become so accustomed to different words it seems odd to think about not using them. This article shows us how different other languages are, based on how they structure sentences and words.
ReplyDeleteI found this article extremely interesting. The Pirahas live a simple life that many of us could not grasp. When they speak, it is quick and to the point. Their language is simple in which they don’t have a number system. Later on, Gordon finds out since they do not have words for numbers, the Pirahas can’t grasp the concept of numbers. This makes sense because if you don’t have knowledge of the word one cannot know what it means. Where would a majority of us be if we couldn’t state how many spoons full of sugar we want in our coffee every morning? Children’s names are simple and some can’t name their four grandparents. The Pirahas live this simple life, in which not a lot maters, such as names and numbers.
ReplyDeletePeter Gordon has been studying the language of a tribe in Brazil for more than seven years. He found some extremely interesting things from observing this tribe that is named Piraha. They only speak in the present tense and have no concept of numbers. It is so crazy to imagine speaking only of present things. I cannot even understand it, does this basically mean that to these people the things that happened days ago no longer took place? Gordon said that the people cannot understand things that they have no words for, which is why they could not count to ten after 8 months of trying. I think this article is so interesting because it sheds light on something that is the complete oppostie of our society.
ReplyDeleteThe Piraha seem like an interesting tribe to study. I think its crazy how many languages are out there that many people just do not understand. The tribes understanding of things would most likely me incomprehensible to the American mind. I think it would be an interesting profession to study these languages if you truly have a passion for it.
ReplyDeleteThe tribe, The Piraha, have been studied by Peter Gordon for many years now. Their language is a very complex and interesting language that is hard to grasp. It is so interesting to me that there are so many different types of languages in the world that are so complex, yet understandable.
ReplyDeletePiraha's language seems very hard to understand. A language that has no numbers or colors seems unrealistic. It must have taken Peter Gordon a long time to understand their peculiar language and culture. I did not believe that this tribe was uneducated based on their different language. I thought that they were inventive and knew how to adapt to the lifestyle that they needed for the present.
ReplyDeleteThe language, Piraha, of Brazil lacks many structures that we use in our common language. In our environment Piraha could not exist because it would not be sufficient. To an isolated tribe in Brazil, a language that allows people to communicate with one another for the most basic and practical purpose is entirely sufficient. It's hard for me to understand being able to speak their language, but I feel if I had experienced the environment and watched the native people interact with one another then I could at least have a better understanding of why such a simple language works.
ReplyDeleteIn this article I found that The Piraha language is very interesting. The interesting fact is that there are only three pronouns and there is not a past tense. I aslo think that the fact that words associated with time and color are rarely used, and numbers are not often used is an interesting fact as well. I believe that this english should be the easiest being as though there is not that much to learn, however, I also believe that this language would be one of the hardest because it is vague.
ReplyDeleteThe language Piraha is very different from any other langugae I've read about. They lack very important components that make up many langauges such as pronouns, and words usng the past tense. It's much simplier than our langauge. They don't use time and color much otften, which makes me think they're not as detailed as other countries. They're just living the simple life.
ReplyDeleteThe Piraha language is one of the strangest languages I have ever read about. It is baffling to me that a language can only have 3 pronouns and rarely uses numbers. The pronouns I could possibly get over, but never using colors or numbers would be extremely difficult in my opinion. I commend the authors abilities, in learning this bizarre language. One other aspect of the Piraha language that I found to be odd, is that there is no past tense. How do these people teach their children about the history of their tribe, where they came from, or even what they did yesterday. Then again, I suppose these details of language are not important to the Piraha people, at least not as important as they are to us. This will definitely be a challenge for the researchers, who want to learn this language.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting in that this tribe has a language that is unlike any other. The fact that they do not use any words for numbers or colors is interesting to me because this group has found a way to not use such language as others but they are still able to communicate. The article even states that they are able to communicate with neighboring tribes people.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that a whole group of people can effectively run a society without the use of numbers and past tense is amazing to me. How did Daniel learn this language without things that are so common in our own language. I don't think I'd be able to grasp the language in its entirety without numbers, tenses, and names.
ReplyDeleteThe "Language or Piraha" the author explains a tribe that has a very unique language. The language has only three pronouns and rarely uses numbers. These people live very simple lives and it is shown by the way the speak. The language is very straight forward which is perhaps why they only need three pronouns. In relation to a past blog, it would be crazy if everyone in the world spoke the same language and that language was Piraha.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting because it is very hard to believe that a society can communicate with no problem without using subordinate clauses, past tense, or numbers. It is amazing that a society, which does not focus on past experiences exist in our world today. This article opened up my eyes to how sheltered I am as an American. For a society to not understand numbers is also amazing, American's live by numbers, we use them everyday: to tell time, exchange money, measurements, and many other things. I think it would be interesting to live with this tribe for a year or so and I feel it would be a peaceful experience.
ReplyDeleteThe piraha language is very hard to learn and took some many people many years to learn. Its very different from most languages. I found this a very interesting language because it dealt with mostly numbers. They have many experiences behind this language, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe Piraha language article made me more interested in the people who are users of the language. After a Google search I was able to hear a native speak the language. It was very interesting. I did hear constant repetition of sounds. The words all meant something different which was interesting to me. How could something so simple be so complex? They rarely use numbers. The language is quite bizarre. Researchers will have to work very hard to decode the language and make it easier to learn.
ReplyDeleteI find the Piraha language to be very odd, though this article was informational and helpful. I liked the part that discusses the controversy on how language works, and it seems to imply that Whorf was right.
ReplyDeletePiraha language brings out a different view of communication. .It makes us realize that there is other ways in which people live. I assume that in this country most people use language as main key to everyday life. Most people here would find it hard to understand how this tribe could live with such a small language. Also the use of numbers are extremely important in our culture which makes it more odd. Then again this tribe does not have high pressure with money, taxes, phone numbers.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting! In this article, Daniel Everett seeks to learn the difficult language of the Piraha people. He had to first gain their trust because when he first came to their village they attempted to kill him and his family. The Piraha is a tribe in Brazil and their language is very difficult to learn. Daniel spent seven years living with them and learned the language. He found that the Piraha language has three pronouns and no past tense. Time, numbers, and colors are rarely used. There language has no subordinate clauses either.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of this before reading it. Unfortunately, I did not find this article that interesting. I understand that it is a language just like any other, but I found it crazy that someone would have to gain the trust of another person in able to speak his language. If an American went to Germany, he would not have to gain the trust of the person before speaking, he would jsut start speaking German. I understand it's under respect of the people, but it just seemed silly to me.
ReplyDelete