My semester at sea class in cognition examined the literature on color names in light of linguistic relativity and determinism.
Interestingly, at one time, based on the original studies by Rosch there was some suggestion that the names didn't matter--that perception was consistent across cultures. However, several recent studies dispute this. In fact, PERCEPTION can be altered by language when it comes to color, which I find to be a very powerful effect of language, when it affects perception. I'm very busy with finals and reading final papers right now--I give all essay exams for the final :( so old-fashioned but I just can't get over it. But if anyone wants a list of references I will provide them in a couple of weeks. Just backchannel me. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Professor, Psychological Sciences University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 [email protected] Subject: RE: Why the Brits From: Jim Clark <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:54:05 +0000 X-Message-Number: 9 Hi Wikipedia has a nice explanation of different schemes for labelling the levels of buildings. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storey Here's the most relevant paragraph that addresses Michael's question (note it is not just Brits!): In most of Europe<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe>, the "first storey" or "first floor" is the level above ground level. This scheme is also used in many of the Commonwealth nations<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations> (except Singapore<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore> and most of Canada<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada>), many former British colonies<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire> (such as Australia), and in many Latin American<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America> countries (including Mexico<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico> and Brazil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil>)[citation needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>]. This convention can be traced back to Medieval European usage. In countries that use this system, the floor at ground level is usually referred to by a special name, usually translating as "Ground Floor" or equivalent. For example, rez-de-chaussée ("street level") in France<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France>, Erdgeschoss ("ground floor") in Germany<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany>, pianterreno (lit. "ground floor") in Italy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy>, begane grond ("walked-upon ground") in Dutch<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_language>, planta baja or planta baixa ("bottom floor") in Spain<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain>, andar térreo ("ground walkplace") in Brazil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil>, "rés-do-chão" ("close to the ground") in Portugal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal>, földszint ("ground level") in Hungary<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary>, parter ("based on French par terre, which means on the ground") in Poland<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland> and Romania<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania>, prÃzemie ("by the ground") in Slovakia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia>, and pritliÄ�je ("close to the ground") in Slovenia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia>. In some countries that use this scheme, the higher floors may be explicitly qualified as being above the ground level — such as in Slovenian prvo nadstropje (literally "first upper floor")[citation needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>]. Seems like there ought to be a psychology experiment somewhere in these differences ... perhaps akin to differences between color names across cultures. Take care Jim Clark Professor & Chair of Psychology U Winnipeg Room 4L41A 204-786-9757 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=31231 or send a blank email to leave-31231-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
