English seems to have a lot of color words, more than most other languages (I think). I wonder why.
The reasons for special vocabularies in other languages is obviously due to culture. Lap Landers have a lot of words relating to reindeer; Tribal-originating languages (Hebrew & arabic) have a lot of words relating to kinship; French has extra vocabulary relating to food.
Why does English have so many color words?
I am ignoring the hundreds (maybe thousands) of color words due due to the paint industry fashion industry, & interior decorators. I am also ignoring descriptive phrases & colors derived from them: Ruby red, emerald green, robins egg blue, et cetera.
Consider the following (others might be able to add a few).
The number of words for red-like hues is amazing. I do not think any other language has so many.
The reasons for special vocabularies in other languages is obviously due to culture. Lap Landers have a lot of words relating to reindeer; Tribal-originating languages (Hebrew & arabic) have a lot of words relating to kinship; French has extra vocabulary relating to food.
Why does English have so many color words?
I am ignoring the hundreds (maybe thousands) of color words due due to the paint industry fashion industry, & interior decorators. I am also ignoring descriptive phrases & colors derived from them: Ruby red, emerald green, robins egg blue, et cetera.
Consider the following (others might be able to add a few).
Red, pink, maroon, crimson, scarlet, vermilion
White, black, grey
Green
Blue, violet
Purple, orange,
Brown
The above are arbitrary categories due to my own views. purple & orange are related in my mind due to being a mixture of colors (red/blue & red/yellow). Perhaps violet should be omitted due for the same reason that ruby & emerald are ingored. Perhaps beige should be added, although I consider that an interior decorator color.White, black, grey
Green
Blue, violet
Purple, orange,
Brown
The number of words for red-like hues is amazing. I do not think any other language has so many.