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Item type:Publication, Untangling the evolution of body-part terminology in Pano: conservative versus innovative traits in body-part lexicalization(Royal Society, 2022-12-09)Although language-family specific traits which do not find direct counterparts outside a given language family are usually ignored in quantitative phylogenetic studies, scholars have made ample use of them in qualitative investigations, revealing their potential for identifying language relationships. An example of such a family specific trait are body-part expressions in Pano languages, which are often lexicalized forms, composed of bound roots (also called body-part prefixes in the literature) and non-productive derivative morphemes (called here body-part formatives). We use various statistical methods to demonstrate that whereas body-part roots are generally conservative, body-part formatives exhibit diverse chronologies and are often the result of recent and parallel innovations. In line with this, the phylogenetic structure of body-part roots projects the major branches of the family, while formatives are highly non-tree-like. Beyond its contribution to the phylogenetic analysis of Pano languages, this study provides significative insights into the role of grammatical innovations for language classification, the origin of morphological complexity in the Amazon and the phylogenetic signal of specific grammatical traits in language families. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Making up numbers in Pano languages: idiosyncratic and unconventional base-free quantification inventories in Amazonia(Royal Society, 2025-10-20)Amazonian languages typically exhibit very small numeral systems or lack numerals altogether. Increasing economic and cultural pressures, however, often motivate the emergence of more complex inventories for exact quantification. Headwaters Pano languages from Amazonia historically had two lexical items that can be rendered as the numerals 'one' and 'two'. We argue here, however, that they are not either etymologically or synchronically proper numerals (like the English ones are) and can be better glossed as 'single/one' (but also 'a few') and 'pair/two'. For larger quantities ('three' to 'ten'), speakers report idiosyncratic quantifying expressions based on different compositional strategies that recruit the lexical items for 'single/one', 'pair/two', but also 'hand' and, in some cases, other body-part expressions and motion verbs as well. We discuss these idiosyncratic quantifying expressions, showing that they do not present systematic and productive number bases; they exhibit unusual patterns of inter- and intra-speaker variability (i.e. they are poorly conventionalized); and they are rarely used in discourse. Based on these properties, we conclude that these quantifying expressions of Headwaters Pano languages are not numerals proper. We then explore the implications of these salient characteristics for the cross-cultural understanding of quantification and the emergence of numerical systems and the study of anumeric languages in Amazonia.This article is part of the theme issue 'A solid base for scaling up: the structure of numeration systems'.1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Exploring Amazonian Cognitive Diversity at Chana Research Station(Wiley, 2026-01-01)The Chana Research Station for Language Sciences and Interculturality is a scientific initiative dedicated to exploring the linguistic, cultural, and cognitive diversity of the Peruvian Amazon. Building on long-standing local partnerships and collaborations, Chana facilitates research on cognition that extends beyond populations from industrialized democracies, traditionally overrepresented in behavioral sciences. Other populations-such as those in Amazonia-exhibit remarkable diversity. With this in mind, current Chana projects and collaborations encompass research on how Amazonian unique linguistic structures and culturally significant practices shape language processing and acquisition, as well as nonlinguistic cognition; studies on cognition focused on quantification practices in cultures with limited or unconventional numeral systems; and cross-cultural investigations of perception, building on prior research in other regions of the Amazon and the world. Beyond human cognition, the station has also supported experimental research on the relationship between domesticated dogs and their owners. Chana prioritizes inclusive and ethical research that benefits and includes local communities and their perspectives by engaging local and Indigenous researchers, and leading social and educational projects focused on cultural revitalization. Chana welcomes collaboration with researchers who are interested in advancing the understanding of Amazonian societies, languages, and knowledge systems.