Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle

A riveting account of the astonishing experiences and discoveries made by linguist Daniel Everett while he lived with the Pirah , a small tribe of Amazonian Indians in central Brazil. Daniel Everett arrived among the Pirah with his wife and three young children hoping to convert the tribe to Christianity. Everett quickly became obsessed with their language and its cultural and linguistic implications. The Pirah have no counting system, no fixed terms for color, no concept of war, and no personal property. Everett was so impressed with their peaceful way of life that he eventually lost faith in the God he'd hoped to introduce to them, and instead devoted his life to the science of linguistics. Part passionate memoir, part scientific exploration, Everett's life-changing tale is riveting look into the nature of language, thought, and life itself.

Author: Daniel L. Everett
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 11/03/2009
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.24w x 0.66d
ISBN13: 9780307386120
ISBN10: 0307386120
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Anthropology | Cultural & Social
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics | General
- Philosophy | Language

About the Author
Daniel L. Everett is the Chair of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Illinois State University.