Why doesn’t every language have a word for blue? cover art

Why doesn’t every language have a word for blue?

Why doesn’t every language have a word for blue?

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Summary

 Our planet is full of blue things. The sea, the sky. Blueberries, bluebirds, bluebells. If English is your only language, it’s probably inconceivable to you that a language could exist without a word for blue. After all, it's one of the three primary colours according to traditional colour theory. And yet in reality not every language in the world does have a specific word for blue. You see, in some languages, blue and green are grouped together as a single category. Linguists sometimes refer to these as “grue” languages, a blend of the words green and blue. How do people get by without a word for blue? So why do some colours appear later than others? What about modern languages though - surely they all have a word for blue? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: How can I learn 1000 words in a new language? Does our personality change when we speak in another language? Are blue eyes really more sensitive to light? A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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