Accessibility links
For the Aymara, Future Is Then Most cultures see the future as something ahead. The past is behind. The Aymara of the Andean highlands reverse the perspective. But their language -- and with it their way of looking at time -- is in danger of being lost.

National

For the Aymara, Future Is Then

Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday

For the Aymara, Future Is Then

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5639624/5639625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Most cultures see the future as something ahead. The past is behind. The Aymara of the Andean highlands reverse the perspective, and they're not alone. Ken Olson, a linguistics professor at the University of North Dakota, fills Scott Simon in on the details.