Re:numbers probably came from (Score 1)

From the point of view of the Piraha, all other human languages, whether spoken by city-dwellers or nomads, are pretty much the same.

IAAHTNLT (i am a highly trained ninja linguist too), but i honestly have no idea what you are trying to say there... that they are the same insofar as they are different from their own? i don't really know since i am not a piraha speaking ninja linguist, but i think it's just a little audacious to assume that they are unable to recognize the same differences anyone else might be able to recognize when listening to any other two languages different to her own.

one too many times i have heard the same point being made: that if i don't have the words to refer to something (in this case, thing i can't see) i can't think about it (a very orwellian idea, mind you). but i assure you that if you get a chinese and a japanese and make them talk to the piraha-speaking dudes, you are bound to find at least 5-6 that can pinpoint at least a few differences between the two.

ok... maybe not 5-6, but definitely 1-4...