While a lot of doubt has been cast on the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (that we can only think about things we have words for) in detail, it does seem to hold to a certain extent. For example, people who don’t have words for numbers have only an approximate grasp on quantities, even small quantities.
Originally shared by Andy Brokaw
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/languages-without-numbers
It seems to me that the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has some applicability to the history of color names. There has been some interesting historical analysis of which societies get which color names and when. Apparently it tends to follow the same pattern across multiple societies. If memory serves, “blue” is a relatively late addition.
It seems to me that the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis has some applicability to the history of color names. There has been some interesting historical analysis of which societies get which color names and when. Apparently it tends to follow the same pattern across multiple societies. If memory serves, “blue” is a relatively late addition.
Yes, people only have names for colours they can make, typically, and they develop in a certain order. Black, white, and red come early, and blue is the last.
Yes, people only have names for colours they can make, typically, and they develop in a certain order. Black, white, and red come early, and blue is the last.
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