Whorf versus Socrates, round 10.
A recent paper by Dehaene, Izard, Pica and Spelke examined geometric concepts among the Munduruku, an Amazonian group without many linguistic terms for spatial relations, and without maps or formal schooling. Their profile of strengths and weaknesses provides new insights into the nature of the human mind and the importance of culture and language to the development of thought.
Newcombe
Nora S
NS
Dept of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N 13th Street, Room 565, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6085, USA. newcombe@temple.edu
Uttal
David H
DH
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003210:Concept Formation; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000523:psychology*; D007802:Language; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D045483:Rivers; D012934:Social Isolation; D013028:Space Perception; D013850:Thinking