Humans mostly see color in exactly the same way. “Like animal species, language is constantly evolving,” said Ohio State’sĭelwin Lindsey, a professor of psychology who worked on the study with optometry professor Angela Brown and Japanese colleagues from several institutions. In Japan, “mizu” is one, as is “kon” (dark blue.) In the U.S., native speakers often use the words “teal,” “lavender,” “peach” and “magenta,” none of which has a commonly used Japanese equivalent. Some unique and commonly described color terms in one language are missing in the other. Identification of basic long-standing color terms came as no surprise, but the use of “mizu” by almost everyone in the group is new and strong evidence that it should be included among 12 generally accepted basic Japanese color terms, the researchers concluded.įurthermore, they found differences between color language in the two modern, diverse societies. No modifiers such as “light” or “dark” were allowed. The study participants used 93 unique color terms. The researchers asked 57 native Japanese speakers to name the colors on cards placed before them.
Researchers from Japan and The Ohio State University collaborated on the study, which examines the color lexicon in Japan over time and compares the country’s modern color terminology to words used in the United States. It’s similar to how people in the United States use “magenta,” rather than “purplish-red.” But “mizu” is its own color, not merely a shade of another. “Mizu” translates to “water” and has emerged in recent decades as a unique shade in the Japanese lexicon, new research has found.Įnglish speakers have “light blue,” sure. COLUMBUS, Ohio – If a Japanese woman were to compliment a friend on her flattering pale-blue blouse, she’d probably employ a word with no English equivalent.
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