It's possible that the majority of English speakers who know the word quipu pronounce it "kwipu", but most of them know it only as an obscure piece of historical trivia. From Wordnik.com. [languagehat.com: QUIPU.] Reference
Really, the word quipu scarcely enters the English language at all, unlike quinine or the edible seed quinoa, which if its current popularity continues may well end up pronounced kwiNOa in English KEENwah is preferred for the time being. From Wordnik.com. [languagehat.com: QUIPU.] Reference
So far as known, the quipu was the only mnemonic system in use in Peru. From Wordnik.com. [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 12: Philip II-Reuss] Reference
While the Inca developed a basic system of counting using bundled knotted strings known as quipu and an elaborate calendar, they did not use writing. From Wordnik.com. [Safehaven] Reference
A quipu was a cord two feet long, composed of differently coloured threads twisted together, from which were hung a number of smaller threads, also differently coloured and tied in knots. From Wordnik.com. [The Red True Story Book] Reference
The "quipu," a knotted reckoning-cord, was in use in Peru and in China. From Wordnik.com. [Atlantis : the antediluvian world] Reference
They did not have a written language; instead they used a cord with beads on it, called "quipu", used to record government business. From Wordnik.com. [Conservapedia - Recent changes [en]] Reference
Incidentally, note Guaman Poma's illustration of a quipu in the article. From Wordnik.com. [languagehat.com: QUIPU.] Reference
Have rural information systems - the Incan quipu, the Australian songline - had the same status as urban ones?. From Wordnik.com. [Information, Culture, Policy, Education: History of information] Reference
A quick note on the quipu: apparently its informational nature wasn't known by westerners until very, very recently. From Wordnik.com. [Information, Culture, Policy, Education:] Reference
The chasqui held out a quipu, and the teacher studied the number and location of the intricate knots tied in the rope. From Wordnik.com. [The Metrognome and other Stories]
Included in the document are three half-pages of drawings signed "Blas Valera" and an envelope containing a wool quipu fragment. From Wordnik.com. [Talking Knots of the Inka] Reference
He cites its extravagant claims about Pizarro and Valera and wonders why this method of quipu decipherment has not surfaced in other chronicles. From Wordnik.com. [Talking Knots of the Inka] Reference
Back to quipu...an article about the same research in the August 20-26 issue of New Scientist spells it "khipu" for both the plural and singular. From Wordnik.com. [languagehat.com: QUIPU.] Reference
The lengths of the strings used in making the quipu were various. From Wordnik.com. [Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests] Reference
It, however, seldom happened that they had to read a quipu without some verbal commentary. From Wordnik.com. [Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests] Reference
Historical note formats and collections - clay tablets, quipu, 15th century commonplace books. From Wordnik.com. [MediaCommons] Reference
In every town some expert men were appointed to tie the knots of the quipu, and to explain them. From Wordnik.com. [Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests] Reference
Something was always required to be added if the quipu came from a distant province, to explain whether it related to the numbering of the population, to tributes, or to war, &c. From Wordnik.com. [Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests] Reference
Indeed, the word 'quipu' means 'a knot. '. From Wordnik.com. [The Red True Story Book] Reference
Tax Accounting, Researchers Suggest" by Nicholas Wade in today's NY Times when I had occasion to grind my teeth: "They believe they may have decoded the first word - a place name - to be found in a quipu pronounced KWEE-poo...". From Wordnik.com. [languagehat.com: QUIPU.] Reference
Strickland asks: "Writing in quipu is a credible form of digital simulation: the idea of writing itself as more than, as a different kind of memory technology, inflected by moment -- what kind of writing is that?. From Wordnik.com. [Blog of a Bookslut] Reference
The quipu record says the same. From Wordnik.com. [Apu Ollantay A Drama of the Time of the Incas] Reference
I've seen it in the quipu roll. From Wordnik.com. [Apu Ollantay A Drama of the Time of the Incas] Reference
Rumi-naui despatched this quipu. From Wordnik.com. [Apu Ollantay A Drama of the Time of the Incas] Reference
This quipu will tell thee, O King. From Wordnik.com. [Apu Ollantay A Drama of the Time of the Incas] Reference
(Enter a CHASQUI with a quipu in his hand.). From Wordnik.com. [Apu Ollantay A Drama of the Time of the Incas] Reference
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