Posted by
Russell Standish on
Mar 16, 2008; 11:58pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/questions-continued-reply-to-glen-tp525945p525946.html
On Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 02:06:40PM -0400, Prof David West wrote:
>
> Some of the most interesting, and unresolved, data is found in very
> basic phenomenon. For example, color perception / color terms in
> language. Cultures have 2 - n color terms in their language:
> If they have exactly two terms they are always black and white (or
> equivalents like, warm and cold)
> If they have exactly three terms, the third term is always red - (B
> / W / R)
> If they have exactly four terms, the fourth is always green - (B /
> W / R / G)
> Five, the fifth is always brown - (B / W / R / G / Br)
> Six, purple - (B / W / R / G / Br / P)
> Seven, plus, no pattern.
> In the cases 1-6 terms, why the commonality? Biology in the form of
> occular perception? Unlikely. Natural Law? Possible, but
> unsatisfactory. Culture? Unlikely.
>
>
> davew
How many languages have just five or six terms? If only one, or are
all closely related, there's your answer.
There are physical explanations why red and green are the first couple
- they are primary colours, and are also the colours of haemoglobin
and chlorophyl, which are widely available pigments. Blue/Purple are
pretty rare pigments, which is why they're considered the colour of
royalty.
Cheers
--
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