Categorizing Colors by Environment and Senses

In this chapter, the author examines the significance of color perception, cultural symbolism, and synesthesia. Goethe’s “warm” and “cool” terms, unrelated to physical temperature, are explored. MacLaury’s Vantage Theory explains the importance of categorizing colors. Bilingual speakers of Mesoamerican languages categorize colors and temperatures differently than monolingual speakers. For instance, the Hanunóo people in the Philippines are categorized based on dry/wet and light/dark, while Ethiopia’s Bodi tribe uses cattle for color classification. Human interference has reduced color diversity in the environment. Japan’s practice of categorizing colors for various occasions is highlighted, with Turner’s insights emphasizing red and white symbolism. The commentary also touches on synesthesia, where one sense triggers another.