Saturday, May 7, 2011

Pirahã

there are some pretty fucked up languages out there

3 syllables, 8 other sounds including 2 incredibly rare ones
the ability to sing and hum the language based only on tune (half of the spoken sounds are not included)
a complete inability to understand the concept of number, only a very primitive 'more' and 'less' (not even the concepts as we know them)
no colour words
no tracking of family beyond siblings and parents (only one word for parent, for both sexes)
incredibly complex verb formations with no ambiguity allowed, but no way of differentiating between recieving and doing the actions (ie 'kill' is the same as 'die')

anyway
my spare time

2 comments:

Lord of the Palmtrees said...

woah what a super crazy language! i love reading/ watching documentaries on isolated indigenous tribes that have little to no contact with the outside world.

but i definitely wouldnt describe the language as 'fucked up'

Jonny Boyz said...

this is crazy

it like disproves theorys and stuff, i love things that disprove theorys.

it's one of a kind apparently, no other language like it. they dont have a word for 3 or any number!!

they is crazy