# Some khipus, especially narrative ones, recorded words phonetically, for example by using cord types for…

> Still possible: Some khipus, especially narrative ones, recorded words phonetically, for example by using cord types for syllables of names.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/answers/ANS0D4V829W47WT/some-khipus-especially-narrative-ones-recorded-words  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Inka khipus: the knotted-cord records](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu)[Do any khipus record language, or only numbers and categories?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZKY6123/do-any-khipus-record-language-or-only-numbers-and-categories)Answer

Answer · Inka khipus: the knotted-cord records

# Some khipus, especially narrative ones, recorded words phonetically, for example by using cord types for…

Some khipus, especially narrative ones, recorded words phonetically, for example by using cord types for syllables of names.

**Still possible** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** Its tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Narrative khipus have larger inventories of cord types than accounting khipus.
- Cord-type sequences in narrative khipus correspond to the syllables of names given in local testimony.

## What would rule it out

- The cord-type inventory of narrative khipus is no larger than that of accounting khipus and shows no correspondence to local names.

## Evidence 1 for · none against

[Two Collata khipus said locally to be letters show many distinct cord types, which Hyland reads as possible…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/evidence/EVD0D4V82HP4MXC/two-collata-khipus-said-locally-to-be-letters-show-many)

Suggestive

FOR

## The questions it answers

[Do any khipus record language, or only numbers and categories?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/khipu/questions/QST0D4V7ZKY6123/do-any-khipus-record-language-or-only-numbers-and-categories)

Most likelyKhipus record numbers and the categories they belong to; colour, fibre and attachment label what is counted…

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). Some khipus, especially narrative ones, recorded words phonetically, for example by using cord types for… [Answer ANS0D4V829W47WT]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D4V829W47WT
```

Key

**ANS** 0D4V829W47WT

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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