We argue that the human ability to linguistically describe spatial locations, relations and paths is likely to contribute importantly to human survival, and that consequently the relation between linguistic elements and structures used in spatial reference, and the environment in which humans navigate, ought to be of concern for evolutionary studies of language. We make the case for systematically studying the correspondences between the structures of human spatial language and the spatially structured practices of human groups within specific landscapes, and for considering this relation within a diachronic framework, as a process of cultural and linguistic adaptation to the physical environment. The last section presents the research design of the Nahuatl Space Project, which investigates the possibility of environmental adaptation of spatial language in four varieties of the Nahuan languages of Mexico.

我们认为，人类用语言描述空间位置，关系和路径的能力很可能对人类的生存做出重要贡献，因此，空间参考中使用的语言要素和结构与人类所处环境之间的关系应该是对语言进化研究的关注。我们有理由系统地研究人类空间语言的结构与特定景观中人类群体的空间结构化实践之间的对应关系，并在历时性框架内考虑这种关系，作为对自然环境进行文化和语言适应的过程。最后一部分介绍了纳瓦特尔太空项目的研究设计，