The Language of Color

by Matthew Luckiesh

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... peimitive language it is often remarked that the prevailing colornames found in the languages of primitive races and in the vocabularies of children can be assumed to represent the colors which affect these beings most powerfully. Usually deductions of the orders of preference are made by noting the relative frequencies of occurrence of the various color-names. It should be obvious that such a criterion is dangerous if depended upon too confidently in a study of the expressive powers of colors. The present subject is introduced here chiefly for the purpose of emphasizing the danger of placing too riiuch value upon information from this source. It is reasonable to suppose that the color-names in the vocabularies of primitive beings indicate in a general manner the more powerful colors. However, these are known through other sources including ordinary observation so that such evidence is at best only corroborative. The limitations of interpretations from this source are due, among other reasons, to the incompleteness of knowledge regarding the colorvision of these primitives and the influence of mental growth in the case of the child. There are many thousands of different colors distinguishable by an adult at the present time; in fact, in a broad sense, wherein grays are considered as colors, the number of different color sensations that can be experienced is perhaps several hundred thousand. It is not surprising that the immature or primitive intellect only comprehends a few of these and it is reasonable to suppose that the most striking colors will be recognized first. The finer feeling toward colors, that is, the recognition of their beauty, depends largely upon the taste of the beholder and taste, according to civilized standards, is...

52 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Matthew Luckiesh (1883-1967 )