# Colorful language

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 5, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308 "2011-02-05T20:32:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ishmael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@Ishmael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ishmael)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308/1 "2011-02-05T20:32:31Z")

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This is a comment on a ‘classic’ of dear unca Cecile’s, from January 24, 1986: “Could early man only see three colors?”

[Link.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/449/could-early-man-only-see-three-colors)

It occurred to me that words to describe various colors could be tied to the development of pigments and dyes, for fabrics, faces, facades (and other finery)?

(I’m sure that I am not the only one who thought of this, but Cecile didn’t mention the possibility.)

Now, to the extent that there’s any ‘universalism’ to the sequence of colors added to a language, perhaps there are some pigments which are widely distributed in the world, and also easy to obtain. Perhaps it was the relative complexity of technology which allowed for a broader palette to be created (and longer trade-routes, to bring in rarer sources).

Further, tying descriptions to dyes (besides allowing for tie-dyed shirts), would explain why specific sections of the spectrum are called out, while adjacent areas are ignored.

Any reaction?

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**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308/2 "2011-02-08T00:15:13Z")

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That question was already raised in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594463).  
Powers &8^]

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**Author:** ![Ishmael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@Ishmael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ishmael)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308/3 "2011-02-08T03:29:20Z")

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I thank the powers that be, for clueing me in.

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**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorful-language/570308/4 "2011-02-09T15:42:13Z")

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The surviving Egyptian tomb paintings seem to be decently colored, in correct matching colours, and more than 3 hues. How old are some of those?