Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: wideawake

http://modernnotion.com/could-the-greeks-not-see-color-blue/


47 posted on 05/23/2015 9:33:48 AM PDT by Oliviaforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]


To: Oliviaforever
That's not accurate.

Gladstone and Geiger apparently did not realize that glaucos in Greek, t'khelet in Hebrew, vinlla in Sanskrit, etc. refer to blue.

Generally the older the language the less clearly defined the vocabulary for colors is - but this applies to many categories: number, animals, and so on.

The ancients were able to see the sky as well as we can. They saw the same color we do. As each culture got better at creating blue dyes and paints, a technical vocabulary to describe color distinctions more distinctly developed.

Primitive tribes in South America and Polynesia will often use one word to describe all bright colors - but when asked to differentiate between the various primary and secondary colors through gestures they can do so as well as any Western housepainter.

52 posted on 05/23/2015 3:55:33 PM PDT by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson