THE HISTORY OF COLOR RESEARCH IN LINGUISTICS

Abstract

This article examines the historical trajectory of color research within linguistics, exploring how color terminology has informed theories of semantics, cognition, and cultural variation. From ancient naming practices to modern psycholinguistic studies, it traces the interplay between language, perception, and societal context in shaping color vocabularies. Key developments, including universalist-relativist debates, cross-linguistic analyses, and cognitive linguistic frameworks, are analyzed to highlight the role of language in conceptualizing color. The article underscores the interdisciplinary connections between linguistics and fields like anthropology and neuroscience, addressing ongoing challenges in understanding color’s linguistic representation.