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The surprising pattern behind color names around the world

Vox · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Language & linguistics

What it is

Vox explains the Berlin and Kay research showing that languages around the world tend to invent color words in the same order. It walks through the hierarchy and the debate around it.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN commenters recommend it as a clear, well-made summary of the linguistics of color naming and how culture shapes it.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “This Vox video summarizing the research of linguistic anthropologists is much more clear”

    Clear summary of linguistic research on color naming.

    sn9, 2017-08 · Recommendation · in “The sea was never blue”

  2. “also covers a bit about the research by Berlin and Kay”

    Covers Berlin and Kay's color naming research.

    maxwell, 2017-09 · Recommendation · in “New theory why languages don’t all have the same number of terms for colors”

  3. “Here is a good video on colour and how many cultures perceive colour and name them, or not.”

    Good video on how cultures name colors.

    dghughes, 2023-10 · Recommendation · in “Why Japan Has Blue Traffic Lights Instead of Green”

  4. “there is a pretty well done video by Vox on how color names are influenced by culture”

    Well-done video on cultural influence on color names.

    Jeremy1026, 2024-09 · Recommendation · in “Is My Blue Your Blue?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: color terms, linguistics, berlin and kay, language and culture, perception

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