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ARE THERE NON-TRIVIAL CONSTRAINTS ON COLOUR CATEGORIZATION?

Saunders, B.A.C. and Brakel , J. van (1997) ARE THERE NON-TRIVIAL CONSTRAINTS ON COLOUR CATEGORIZATION?.

Short Abstract:

In this target article the following hypotheses are discussed: (1) colour is autonomous: a perceptuo-linguistic and behavioural universal; (2) it is completely described by three independent attributes: hue, brightness and saturation; (3) phenomenologically and psychophysically there are four unique hues: red, green, blue, yellow; (4) the unique hues are underpinned by two opponent psychophysical and/or neuronal channels: red/green, blue/yellow. The relevant literature is reviewed. We conclude: [i] psychophysics and neurophysiology fail to set nontrivial constraints on colour categorization; [ii] linguistic evidence provides no grounds for the universality of basic colour categories; [iii] neither the opponent hues red/green, blue/yellow nor hue, brightness and saturation are intrinsic to a universal concept of colour; (iv) colour is not autonomous.

Long Abstract:

In this target article the following hypotheses are discussed: (1) colour is autonomous: a perceptuo-linguistic and behavioural universal; (2) it is completely described by three independent attributes: hue, brightness and saturation; (3) phenomenologically and psychophysically there are four unique hues: red, green, blue, yellow; (4) the unique hues are underpinned by two opponent psychophysical and/or neuronal channels: red/green, blue/yellow. The relevant literature is reviewed. We conclude: [i] psychophysics and neurophysiology fail to set nontrivial constraints on colour categorization; [ii] linguistic evidence provides no grounds for the universality of basic colour categories; [iii] neither the opponent hues red/green, blue/yellow nor hue, brightness and saturation are intrinsic to a universal concept of colour; (iv) colour is not autonomous.

Keywords:	colour, categorization, universals, unique hues, opponent processes, linking propositions
Subjects:	Psychology: Applied Cognitive Psychology Psychology: Perceptual Cognitive Psychology
ID code:	bbs00000487
Deposited by:	Barbara Saunders on 01 May 2001