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I remember hearing in a podcast or reading once (it was a long time ago) that in Homer's Odyssey the word "blue" never occurs. Instead objects we would typical
by CitrusFruits 5y ago
I remember hearing in a podcast or reading once (it was a long time ago) that in Homer's Odyssey the word "blue" never occurs. Instead objects we would typically think of as blue are described strangely, like the ocean being "wine" colored. Judging by that, I'd guess the answer to question is "yes" but it'd be interesting to hear more on the subject.
- barry-cotter 5y agoBerlin and Kay posit seven levels in which cultures fall, with Stage I languages having only the colors black (dark–cool) and white (light–warm). Languages in Stage VII have eight or more basic color terms. This includes English, which has eleven basic color terms. The authors theorize that as languages evolve, they acquire new basic color terms in a strict chronological sequence; if a basic color term is found in a language, then the colors of all earlier stages should also be present. The sequence is as follows: Stage I: Dark-cool and light-warm (this covers a larger set of colors than just English "black" and "white".) Stage II: Red Stage III: Either green or yellow Stage IV: Both green and yellow Stage V: Blue Stage VI: Brown Stage VII: Purple, pink, orange, or gray https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Color_Terms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Color_Terms
- martopix 5y agoNot sure why you're getting downvoted. I read the same fact in "through the language glass" by Guy Deutscher.