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Independent cross-cultural data reveal linguistic effects on basic numerical cognition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2014

Caleb Everett
Caleb Everett*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Miami, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The role of numeric language in basic numerical cognition is explored via the consideration of results obtained in two recent independent studies, one with Nicaraguan homesigners and one with speakers of Pirahã. Attention is drawn to remarkable parallels between the relevant findings, parallels that provide compelling evidence that adults without access to numeric language face difficulties when simply attempting to differentiate quantities greater than three.

Keywords

number wordsnumerical cognitionlinguistic relativity
Type
Commentary
Information
Language and Cognition , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 99 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © UK Cognitive Linguistics Association 2013

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