Re: [tied] Re: Color and caste

I think it's very arbitrary. In tropical regions, as Amazonia, there's an abundance of colours. So, the Amerindian Tupi from Brazil have PIRANGA "red", JUBA "yellow"; TINGA "white", UNA "black", OBI "blue" , KIRA "green".

Joao SL

Rio

----- Original Message -----

From: Håkan Lindgren

To: Cybalist

Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2000 3:31 AM

Subject: [tied] Re: Color and caste

Your discussion about colours makes me remember a theory I once read. According to this theory, all languages develop colour names in the same order. First, there are no colour names, just words for "light" and "dark". Then they get red, which always is the first colour. Then a common word for blue and green. Then yellow. Then blue-green splits into separate words for blue and green. Etc..

Has anyone else heard this? Is this credible?

Hakan.