2019-09-22

[public] 480K views, 20.7K likes, 447 dislikes audio only

What I've Learned

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[NAVIGATION]

0:00 - Location affects how languages sound?

1:26 - Language is complex and difficult, even for babies. Does that mean it must be prewired? Or could we have invented it?

3:10 - If language "evolved," what were the steps it took? [Enter indexes]

4:01 - Icons

5:07 - Symbols

7:31 - What about grammar? | Language is a gestalt: importance of culture, gestures, intonation...

8:27 - NEED CONTEXT. CONTEXT GOOD. CONTEXT BIG.

10:11 - The recursion controversy. What is recursion? Why is it a big deal that Pirahã lacks it?

11:32 - Is the lack of recursion an example supporting the idea that languages are an evolved invention?

15:00 - "immediacy of experience" principle

16:09 - What if you lacked numbers?

17:00 - "So the point is..."

Big thanks to Daniel Everett (no relation) for speaking with me over Skype and answering several follow up questions I had about the Pirahã, their language and the ideas presented in his books. Check out https://daneverettbooks.com/ for more information.

Link to Transcript with sources (PDF file @ this link) https://www.patreon.com/posts/script-where-did-30173973

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Books Mentioned:

"How Language Began" - https://amzn.to/2McfW08

"Don't Sleep, There are Snakes" - https://amzn.to/2QjOing

For Business inquiries: joseph.everett.wil@gmail.com