Perceptual Distances and the Basic Color Term Encoding Sequence

Abstract

Contends that (1) a strict definition of "encoding" leads to the 3-wave representation of the encoding sequence of basic color terms, (2) locations of the foci of the 11 universal color categories on the psychological color solid represent the reference points for the matching terms, (3) basic color terms are by definition chosen "efficiently," and (4) "efficiency" for the focus of a basic color term can be measured by its summed perceptual distances from the other 10 foci. Such a measure of efficiency for each of the foci, subject to the 3-wave constraint, correlates well with the observed encoding sequence of the corresponding basic color terms. Thus, besides biological, societal, and neurophysiological factors, an additional factor of psychology or psychophysics determines the content of basic color lexica. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)