Take a photo of a barcode or cover
176 reviews for:
Das glücklichste Volk: sieben Jahre bei den Pirahã-Indianern am Amazonas
Daniel L. Everett
3.81 AVERAGE
176 reviews for:
Das glücklichste Volk: sieben Jahre bei den Pirahã-Indianern am Amazonas
Daniel L. Everett
3.81 AVERAGE
A really interesting read about Everett's 30 years in the Amazon with a group of people whose culture and societal structure is drastically different from that of most Westerners. His typical pattern was to offer an observation on some unique aspect of the Pirahãs language, followed by an anecdote illustrating his point. Occasionally, his anecdotes got away from him, or were only tangentially related to the point he was trying to make. Most of his stories and observations are very interesting, although I don't particularly agree with his assertion that the only way to learn a language is to also learn the culture of a people.
OMG anaconda.
Would definitely recommend.
OMG anaconda.
Would definitely recommend.
I spotted this book at a good time: I am in the midst of a very intensive year studying te reo Māori (the Māori language), and reading about a linguist studying an indigenous language yielded many welcome insights. As a linguist, the objective of Everett's study of the Pirahá and their language was to be able to translate the Bible (he was also a missionary). His research living among the Pirahá led to a number of other unexpected outcomes. At a broader theoretical level, he realised that Chomsky's theory of grammar (canon in linguistics) does not really hold for the Pirahá. At a personal level - and more meaningfully - what he learns from the Pirahá led to an epistemological crisis and loss of his religion.
I had been thinking a lot about the deep connection between language and culture with the intensification of my te reo study; at so many points over the past couple of years I have had light-bulb moments about cultural elements that I had seen/heard/experienced, but not truly understood until I understood language related to those elements. I saw this a bit when learning Japanese, but not to the same level (which was certainly lack of insight on my part). Everett's book has not given me any type of formal framework, but has provided evidence that thinking about language in the context of culture (and vice versa) is relevant and valuable.
I had been thinking a lot about the deep connection between language and culture with the intensification of my te reo study; at so many points over the past couple of years I have had light-bulb moments about cultural elements that I had seen/heard/experienced, but not truly understood until I understood language related to those elements. I saw this a bit when learning Japanese, but not to the same level (which was certainly lack of insight on my part). Everett's book has not given me any type of formal framework, but has provided evidence that thinking about language in the context of culture (and vice versa) is relevant and valuable.
Not flawlessly written, but fascinating story. This guy went in as a missionary and came out without his faith in god but with a new love and fascination for language. There are a few drier chapters strictly focused on linguistics, but the stories where his moral/belief system got challenged by what he saw and felt there are gripping reads.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Incredibly interesting. Will be a book I think about for a long time after. Highly recommend!
Really I would give this book 4.5 stars. And that last half a star is really only because a couple of the linguistics chapters were over my head, which is more my issue than the author's. Reading about the Pirahãs really changed my perception of how culture works. It's a fascinating book. I finished it wishing I could ask the author more questions.
For the last couple of months my college kid kept sharing stories about the Piraha indigenous people of Brazil and I humored him by listening. Yeah "that's interesting or wow" comments. Then he asked me to read it. I never would have picked up this book on my own but I found the stories Daniel Everett shared about this tribe in the Amazon forest fascinating. Probably 4.5 stars since I wasn't in to all the linguistics. I'm so glad I read this though (or listened to it) all in one day no less. It was crazy interesting learning about this tribe.
A book about linguistics and living in a the middle of nowhere....perfect. Amazon, malaria, caiman, anacondas, oh my.
This is the story of the author's 30 year (and on going) relationship with the Pirahas, a small group of people that live in the Amazon and speak a language uninfluenced by the outside world bc of their lack of interest in change. He studies the language--- and tries to learn its grammar, vocabulary and culture in order to create a Bible in their language. Thankfully the longer he spends outside his faith in the real world, the more he realizes missionary work is inappropriate and works to learn the culture so he can better explain and understand language and the way brains work. I enjoyed the linguistic parts of the book, but I more enjoyed the parts about how their culture is different and how Daniel changed by living amongst them. I wish I could have heard the language....but I will have to do some googling to track down some recordings. It is hard to wrap my head around the way their language works (no counting system, no past stories...), but that is because my brain is skewed by my culture. It is a good book to read if you want to rethink your perspective.
Read if you enjoy language and culture.
This is the story of the author's 30 year (and on going) relationship with the Pirahas, a small group of people that live in the Amazon and speak a language uninfluenced by the outside world bc of their lack of interest in change. He studies the language--- and tries to learn its grammar, vocabulary and culture in order to create a Bible in their language. Thankfully the longer he spends outside his faith in the real world, the more he realizes missionary work is inappropriate and works to learn the culture so he can better explain and understand language and the way brains work. I enjoyed the linguistic parts of the book, but I more enjoyed the parts about how their culture is different and how Daniel changed by living amongst them. I wish I could have heard the language....but I will have to do some googling to track down some recordings. It is hard to wrap my head around the way their language works (no counting system, no past stories...), but that is because my brain is skewed by my culture. It is a good book to read if you want to rethink your perspective.
Read if you enjoy language and culture.
informative
inspiring
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced