[realradicalwash]

I am hesitant to take the lack of the ability to embed as a fact. My impression is that Everett had a theory in mind when he surveyed Piraha and that he sought to confirm his theory. That is, I am worried that this account is subverted by "theory selects data". So I think what we need is a lot more data, ideally collected by someone who the field views as (relatively) neutral.

[kortex]

This is a very valid concern. Pirahã is super isolated, culturally, linguistically, physically. There are a few hundred speakers deep in the Amazon. Everett is _the_ world expert on Pirahã language (second is likely Steven Sheldon), pretty much everything on the subject is viewed through his lens. As I understand it, it was only the past decade or so when others have really started publishing on the subject in ernest.

And even Everett didn't catch the bilabial trill affricate till 2004, like 20+ years in to his research.