The Way You See Colour Depends On What Language You Speak

[Judi Lynn]

The Way You See Colour Depends On What Language You Speak

The human eye can physically perceive millions of colors. But we don’t all recognize these colors in the same way.

Some people can’t see differences in colors – so-called color blindness – due to a defect or absence of the cells in the retina that are sensitive to high levels of light: the cones. But the distribution and density of these cells also vary across people with “normal vision” causing us all to experience the same color in slightly different ways.

Besides our individual biological makeup, color perception is less about seeing what is actually out there and more about how our brain interprets colors to create something meaningful. The perception of color mainly occurs inside our heads and so is subjective – and prone to personal experience.

Take for instance people with synaesthesia, who are able to experience the perception of color with letters and numbers. Synaesthesia is often described as a joining of the senses – where a person can see sounds or hear colors. But the colors they hear also differ from case to case.

More:
http://www.iflscience.com/brain/the-way-you-see-colour-depends-on-what-language-you-speak/all/

[Loki Liesmith]

1. A bit. But less than used to be thought.

[Mrs. Overall]

2. Fascinating!

[d_r]

3. I tasted music once

[MaryMagdaline]

4. Interesting post, Judi Lynn

[Maraya1969]

5. This is something I have thought about for years!

The fact that there is no way to find out if someone sees the exact color I do!

Also when I have picked out paint the people at the store seem to see the colors in greater depth than me. They will say something like, "There is more yellow in this color than that" while I just stand there with a blank stare because I can't see it.