The chapters in this book present a kaleidoscopic impression of the range of variation in the linguistic treatment of the spatial domain. Each chapter presents a wealth of linguistic detail – what makes the overall exercise special is that, because each description uses the same elicitation devices, we can relatively easily set up fairly precise semantic comparisons in an unusual way. Naturally, the reader may not immediately be able to see the wood for the trees, and many detailed questions naturally arise. For example, one language, like Tiriyó, has a wealth of spatial adpositions, another, like Tzeltal has only one (and that not restricted to space). In contrast, Tiriyó has only one locative verb available for its basic locative construction, while Tzeltal has an extraordinary richness in spatial predicates available for its basic locative construction. Is there a systematic pay-off here? In addition, general questions also come to the fore: behind this variable expression, can we discern universal semantic parameters that might be attributed to general properties of human cognition?

In this final chapter, we have two goals. First, and foremost, we will try to draw the lessons learned from the careful comparative study reflected in these chapters – what are the main patterns that inductively emerge? Second, we will attempt to draw out the implications of this emerging typology of variation for the disciplines that have an important stake in the nature of human spatial cognition.