Abstract
Recent research has suggested that the Pirahã, an Amazonian tribe with a number-less language, are able to match quantities >3 if the matching task does not require recall or spatial transposition. This finding contravenes previous work among the Pirahã. In this study, we re-tested the Pirahãs' performance in the crucial one-to-one matching task utilized in the two previous studies on their numerical cognition, as well as in control tasks requiring recall and mental transposition. We also conducted a novel quantity recognition task. Speakers were unable to consistently match quantities >3, even when no recall or transposition was involved. We provide a plausible motivation for the disparate results previously obtained among the Pirahã. Our findings are consistent with the suggestion that the exact recognition of quantities >3 requires number terminology.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 130-141 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Cognitive Science |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2012 |
Keywords
- Linguistic relativity
- Number
- Numerical cognition
- Pirahã
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Artificial Intelligence