Amazon tribe shows how language moulds the way we think

A SECLUDED Amazonian tribe whose culture does not recognise numbers has shown scientists how language can mould the way we think.

The Piraha indians, with a population of less than 200 living along the banks of the Maici River in Brazil, have no concept of precise amounts and words such as “more”, “all” and “each” do not exist in their language. Although they can count to “one” and “two”, the word for “one” tends to refer to “roughly one” or a small quantity. Any number beyond two is translated as “many”.

The new research, reported yesterday in the journal Science, showed that the Piraha’s inability to count had a major impact on the way they perceived the world.