MoL-2013-02: Carving up the rainbow: how to model linguistic categorization of color

MoL-2013-02: Ocelák, Radek (2013) Carving up the rainbow: how to model linguistic categorization of color. [Report]

Preview	Text (Full Text) MoL-2013-02.text.pdf Download (479kB) | Preview
	Text (Abstract) MoL-2013-02.abstract.txt Download (2kB)

Abstract

The thesis deals with categorization of color in language,
specifically with the question how to account for its observed
cross-linguistic patterns. To this end, I consider color
categorization models of the most recent type, which go beyond the
dated dichotomy of universalism and relativism, integrating
constraints on color perception by a human individual as well as
constraints on language interaction between individual agents.

After setting the color categorization problem in its historical,
disciplinary and ideological context, I proceed from the question of
evaluation. I argue, contra the relativist critics, that the World
Color Survey (the most extensive color categorization in languages of
the world, against which color categorization models should be
evaluated. However, a considered reduction of the actual WCS data is
desirable in order to exclude the impact of several distorting
factors.

The major part of the thesis, the, is focused on the question of an
appropriate perceptual basis for a color categorization model: that
is, on the assumptions about individual color perception that such a
model should embody. First, I examine the relevance of various color
topologies for the color categorization problem. I suggest a basic
modeling strategy, which involves the CIELAB color space with an
updated color difference formula. The proportion of color-deficient
agents in the population is likely to play a significant role. After
that, I consider the possible explanatory role of two phenomena that
are rather central and, as I argue, seriously misconceived in the
contemporary color science: what is known as "unique hues" and what is
commonly referred to as "categorical perception of color". Against the
mainstream opinion, I argue that there is no reason to claim that some
hues (in particular, red, yellow, green and blue) are privileged or
constitutive in human color perception. The widespread notion of four
perceptually unique hues organized in a double-opponent fashion is
flawed and has no explanatory relevance with respect to linguistic
categorization of color. The phenomenon of categorical perception, as
far as prelinguistic children are concerned, can be employed in
explaining linguistic categorization of color, but only upon a
substantial clarification. Categorical perception effects must not be
explicated, as is common, in terms of warping of the perceptual color
space. Moreover, the existing evidence on "infant categorical
perception" does not license the usual conclusion that infants
perceptually categorize color. For our explanatory purpose, the
phenomenon should be conceived as differentiation of the
discrimination performance over the perceptual color space.

I conclude by a brief outline of other desirable components for a
color categorization model, ones that go beyond the level of
individual color perception.

Item Type:	Report
Report Nr:	MoL-2013-02
Series Name:	Master of Logic Thesis (MoL) Series
Year:	2013
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2016 14:38
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2016 14:38
URI:	https://eprints.illc.uva.nl/id/eprint/891

Actions (login required)

View Item