How did the First Language Begin? The Mystery of the Pirahã

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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-...

Books Mentioned:
"How Language Began" - https://amzn.to/2McfW08
"Don't Sleep, There are Snakes" - https://amzn.to/2QjOing