Pourquoi certaines langues n'ont-elles pas de mot pour « bleu » ?

The question of how we perceive and name colors is intrinsically linked to our language. The complex and fascinating relationship between human vision, culture, and language, especially color perception in language, reveals itself to be a vibrant field of study.

The absence of a specific term for “blue” in certain ancient or contemporary languages is not an oversight, but rather a window into how the mind organizes the visual world. This linguistic mystery directly challenges the idea that color is a purely universal perception.

Why Is Blue Special in the Linguistic Evolution of Colors?

Blue holds a singular linguistic statut in diverse cultures across the globe. Surprisingly, many ancient languages, such as classical Greek and Japanese, did not possess a basic, monolexemic word for blue.

Frequently, the blue hue was grouped with green or, in some cases, with black or gray. Color perception in language proves that the evolution of chromatic vocabulary is not always linear, making this an intriguing starting point.

In fact, for the ancient Greeks, the term glaukos could refer to blue, gray, or even certain shades of green. The lack of a sharp distinction suggests that the cultural need to name this color was not a priority. This is powerful evidence that language not only reflects but also shapes the way we conceptualize reality. The color blue took a long time to be isolated and named.

Often, the word for blue emerges late in the evolution of languages, after terms for black, white, red, yellow, and green have already been established.

The semantic evolution of blue proves fascinating for linguistic and cognitive researchers. Observing this tendency across different language families suggests the existence of underlying universal factors.

What Is Berlin and Kay’s Universal Sequence for Colors?

The research by Brent Berlin and Paul Kay, published in 1969, revolutionized the study of color perception in language. They proposed an evolutionary sequence of basic color terms that is largely followed by all languages worldwide. This theory, though debated and refined, remains a landmark.

The researchers suggested that the number of basic color terms in a language develops in a predictable and hierarchical order. The first distinction is always between dark/cool and light/warm (black and white). The third color to emerge is universally red, followed by either yellow or green.

Blue, according to this universalist sequence, is generally the sixth color to be named, after black, white, red, yellow, and green. Linguistic evidence points to a much more structured chromatic coding order than previously thought. This finding challenges the notion that color naming is entirely arbitrary and culturally specific.

The Berlin and Kay theory established the foundation for understanding chromatic categories. Their structure helps explain why some languages, especially those from cultures with less exposure to pigment trade, lack the word “blue.” The development of language reflects practical necessities, which is a crucial point in the discussion.

The table above clearly demonstrates that blue is a late addition to the basic vocabulary. Consequently, languages in Stages I, II, III, or IV, by the very definition of the theory, will not have a separate, basic word for blue. Understanding this model is essential for analyzing linguistic diversity.

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How Do Culture and Necessity Shape Color Perception?

The fundamental reason for the absence of the word “blue” in some languages lies at the intersection of culture, environment, and necessity. Nature, in fact, offers fewer pure blue resources than greens, yellows, or reds. Natural blue pigment was historically rare and difficult to obtain.

Consider the materials: red ochre, white clay, and black charcoal were easily accessible, leading to an early need to name them.

The vibrant blue of the sky and sea was often described through analogies or compared to shades of black, green, or even gray. Visual distinction becomes linguistically relevant only when cultural distinction is important.

Linguistics, alongside anthropology, argues that color categories develop where there is a communicative need, such as in agriculture or trade.

If a culture does not need to differentiate blue from green in its immediate environment, the cognitive cost of creating and maintaining a separate term is not worthwhile. This cognitive economy is a powerful driver in linguistic evolution.

Additionally, recent research continues to explore how linguistic color categories affect the speed with which people perceive them.

Work by Dr. Lera Boroditsky at the University of California demonstrated that language structure can speed up the perception of color boundaries. The brain uses language to enhance what the eyes see.

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Notable Examples of Languages Without a Term for Blue (or With Ambiguity)

There are remarkable examples, both historical and current, that illustrate the fascinating variability in color naming. Studying these languages offers us a deeper insight into color perception in language and its limits.

It is important to note that “not having a word” means the absence of a basic term for the color, not the inability to describe it.

Consider the Himba language, spoken in Namibia, which does not have a term for blue. Instead, blue is grouped with dark or green shades.

More interestingly, the Himba language has several words to differentiate shades of green that English speakers would see as the same color. This inverts our own Western perception of distinction.

Another classic case is the Dani language, spoken in Papua New Guinea, which was long considered to have the fewest basic color terms.

Dani uses only two terms: mili (for dark/cool colors, like blue, green, black) and mola (for light/warm colors, like white, red, yellow). This demonstrates a spectrum division based on brightness and warmth, rather than hue.

Despite the Berlin and Kay theory, linguistic differences in color categorization remain notable and impactful.

Russian, for instance, has two basic words for blue: goluboy (light blue) and siniy (dark blue). This is not a variation, but rather distinct basic color categories at the level of perception and naming. Want to know more about this research?

Check out this article on the influence of the Russian language on the perception of light and dark blue (Studies on Color Perception in Russian Speakers).

The Relationship Between Language and the Speed of Visual Perception

The influence of language on colors is not just about vocabulary; it extends to the very speed at which we process visual information.

Modern research has provided empirical evidence for the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that the language we speak shapes our thinking. The difference in blue is an excellent testing ground.

In a study with Russian and English speakers, researchers showed pairs of blue squares, some of which crossed the linguistic boundary between goluboy et siniy for Russians, but not for English speakers.

The Russian speakers were significantly faster at distinguishing between the blue shades. The fact that they have two basic words for the color established a sharper boundary in their minds.

Linguistic distinction actually creates a cognitive advantage, a kind of mental shortcut. The brain uses the learned color label to accelerate the differentiation process, showing that color perception in language is a dynamic process.

Pure sensory perception is instantaneous, but categorization and recognition are mediated by the structure of language.

To illustrate, imagine a mental ruler: where one language places only one mark (bleu), the other places two (goluboy et siniy), forcing a faster distinction in neural processing.

This highlights that the absence of a word for blue does not imply color blindness, but rather a different visual categorization. Categorization is a fundamental tool for the mind.

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Conclusion: Blue Is More Than a Color, It Is a Social Construct

The absence of a word for “blue” in some languages is a powerful reminder that our experience of reality is profoundly mediated by language.

Colors, which seem to be a universal, physical reality, are actually shaped by cultural, environmental, and linguistic needs. Color perception in language is proof that language is a guide, not just a label.

The fascinating journey of blue, from its grouping with green or black in ancient cultures to its current status as a basic universal color, reflects human evolution. What changes is not the light spectrum, but the social, cultural, and technological importance of the color.

Blue is a testament to the malleability of the human mind. Color vocabulary is constantly expanding, keeping pace with innovations and changes in human life.

To deepen your knowledge on the subject, consult the academic work from Stanford University on linguistic relativity and colors

Frequently Asked Questions About Colors and Language

What Does a “Basic Color Term” Mean?

A Basic Color Term is a single word (monolexemic), high-frequency, and widely accepted word that names a color without depending on other objects. For example, “blue” is a basic term, but “sky-blue” is not.

Do People from Cultures Without a Word for “Blue” See the Color Differently?

Yes and no. They see the same light spectrum because their eyes are the same. However, research indicates that the absence of the term can make the distinction between blue and green, for example, slower, as the brain lacks a pre-established linguistic boundary for categorization.

Were Green and Blue Grouped Together in Many Ancient Languages?

Indeed. In many languages, such as Japanese (ao) and Vietnamese (xanh), a single term historically covered what we now call blue and green. The modern distinction often arose due to the influence of other languages or a growing cultural need.

Is Berlin and Kay’s theory universally accepted today?

The Berlin and Kay theory is highly influential and widely accepted as a model for the evolution of chromatic categories. Although there are criticisms and refinements, the hierarchical sequence of basic colors (black, white, red, etc.) remains the standard in the field of color perception in language study.