EPISÓDIO 01 - CONVERSA COM O LINGUÍSTA, PROF DANIEL EVERETT - RÁDIO WEB UPE

·35 min·3 clips

The Pirahã told Everett to stop talking about Jesus because he had no direct evidence, which made him question his own beliefs.

The episode begins with host Vânia Fialho introducing linguist Daniel Everett, a professor at Bentley University, and his new book 'Language, Sense and Action'. Everett recounts his personal history, starting from meeting a missionary family in California that led him to move to Brazil as a missionary in 1977. He discusses his transition from missionary work to academia, influenced by his experiences with the Pirahã people in the Amazon. Everett argues that language and culture are deeply intertwined, using the Pirahã as a case study to show how cultural factors like noise levels affect linguistic features such as repetition. He describes how the Pirahã's cultural emphasis on direct evidence challenged his missionary teachings about Jesus, leading him to abandon his faith. Everett critiques the separation of linguistics and anthropology, advocating for an integrated approach. He contrasts his views with structuralist anthropologist Lévi-Strauss, favoring a semiotic perspective based on Charles Peirce's work. The conversation touches on linguistic recursion, with Everett explaining that the Pirahã language lacks it, challenging Noam Chomsky's theories of universal grammar. He mentions recent research by Jeffrey Pullum identifying other non-recursive languages. Everett emphasizes learning through action and immersion, sharing how he learned Portuguese by interacting with Brazilians. He reflects on the Pirahã's happiness and community values, noting their strict cultural norms against violence. The episode concludes with insights on diversity and the limitations of universal claims in linguistics and anthropology.

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