Dani People - Language

Language

Linguists identify at least four sub-groupings of Dani languages:

  • Lower-Grand Valley Dani (20,000 speakers)
  • Mid-Grand Valley Dani (50,000 speakers)
  • Upper-Grand Valley Dani (20,000 speakers)
  • and the Lani or Western Dani (180,000 speakers)

The Dani languages differentiate only two basic colours, mili for cool/dark shades such as blue, green, and black, and mola for warm/light colours such as red, yellow, and white. This trait makes it an interesting field of research for language psychologists, e.g. Eleanor Rosch, eager to know whether there is a link between way of thought and language.

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