Journal

Volume 10, Issue 1 (January 31, 2009)

5 articles

• The Impact of Statistical Distributions of Colours on Colour Category Acquisition
  by Tony Belpaeme & Joris Bleys
  J. CS. 2009, 10(1), 1-20;
  Abstract Different accounts have been proposed to explain the remarkable crosscultural similarities of human colour categories. One of these accounts, known as empiricism, places the burden of the explanation on the statistical distribution of colours in the shared environment we live in. It has been claimed... [Read more].
  Abstract Different accounts have been proposed to explain the remarkable crosscultural similarities of human colour categories. One of these accounts, known as empiricism, places the burden of the explanation on the statistical distribution of colours in the shared environment we live in. It has been claimed that this factor is essential for the nature of human colour categories and that it is even capable to account for the evolution of colour categories as observed in human cultures. We present a computational model to verify this hypothesis, which improves on previous work by Yendrikhovskij (2001a). Our results suggest that the chromatic environment does not fully explain the nature of human colour categories, however the distribution of colours in the environment does bias the acquisition of colour categories. We suggest how culture and specifically language might account for the observed nature of human colour categories. [Collapse]
• Unique Hue Judgment in Different Languages : A Comparison of Korean and English
  by Hyensou Pak & Debi Roberson
  J. CS. 2009, 10(1), 21-40;
  Abstract Three experiments investigated unique hues (Hering, 1878) in native Korean and English speakers. Many recent studies have shown that color categories differ across languages and cultures, challenging the proposal that a particular set of color categories is universal and potentially innate. Unique h... [Read more].
  Abstract Three experiments investigated unique hues (Hering, 1878) in native Korean and English speakers. Many recent studies have shown that color categories differ across languages and cultures, challenging the proposal that a particular set of color categories is universal and potentially innate. Unique hue judgments, and selection of the best examples of those categories have also been found to vary within an English-speaking population. Here we investigated unique hue judgments and possible discrepancies between unique hue and best example judgments in two languages. Experiment 1 found that the loci of unique hues were similar for English and Korean speakers. Experiment 2 replicated and extended this result, using both single and double hue scaling. Experiment 3 showed that, in both cultures, unique hue choices depended on the range, and organization of the array from which participants chose. The results of this study suggest that unique hue judgments vary according to the experimental task, in both languages. [Collapse]
• Categorical Perception of Color is Restricted to the Right Visual Field in Korean Speakers Who Maintain Central Fixation
  by Debi Roberson & Hyensou Pak
  J. CS. 2009, 10(1), 41-52;
  Abstract A previous study (Roberson, Pak & Hanley, 2008) demonstrated that Korean (but not English) speakers show Categorical Perception (CP) on a visual search task for a boundary between two Korean colour categories that is not marked in English. Moreover, fast Korean responders showed CP only in the right... [Read more].
  Abstract A previous study (Roberson, Pak & Hanley, 2008) demonstrated that Korean (but not English) speakers show Categorical Perception (CP) on a visual search task for a boundary between two Korean colour categories that is not marked in English. Moreover, fast Korean responders showed CP only in the right visual field while slow responders showed CP in both visual fields. The present study used eye-tracking to demonstrate that those responders who maintained fixation on a central point showed CP only in the right visual field. Responders who moved their eyes to search for targets showed the effect in both visual fields. These results support that CP in this task is mediated by processing in the left hemisphere. [Collapse]
• Linguistic and Perceptual Categories in Colour Vision : A Critical Review
  by David Bimler
  J. CS. 2009, 10(1), 53-95;
  Abstract Part of the visual processing of colour stimuli is their classification into a small number of categories, with an effect on the pattern of subjective interstimulus similarities. That is, colour perception is categorical. The relationship between the categories of perception and those of the colour ... [Read more].
  Abstract Part of the visual processing of colour stimuli is their classification into a small number of categories, with an effect on the pattern of subjective interstimulus similarities. That is, colour perception is categorical. The relationship between the categories of perception and those of the colour lexicon can be probed in various ways. "Natural experiments" exist: verbal categories vary between languages, and are not available at all to sufficiently young children. In addition, verbal responses can be discouraged while colour similarity is assessed. Here I review a number of recent studies of categorical perception. I argue that the majority are consistent with a moderate form of linguistic relativity, in which the acquisition of a colour lexicon does influence the perception of similarities. Subjects continue to manifest categorical effects under conditions of speeded search, which might be expected to preclude verbal responses. I interpret this as evidence about the early, pre-attentive stages of verbal processing. [Collapse]
• Non-Factual Before as an Exceptive Construction
  by Douglas J. Wulf
  J. CS. 2009, 10(1), 97-112;
  Abstract The notion that non-factual before is an exceptive construction is explored. It is shown that this explanation is consistent with observed behavior. A formal analysis designed for exceptive constructions is reinterpreted as an analysis of non-factual before. Non-factual interpretations associated wi... [Read more].
  Abstract The notion that non-factual before is an exceptive construction is explored. It is shown that this explanation is consistent with observed behavior. A formal analysis designed for exceptive constructions is reinterpreted as an analysis of non-factual before. Non-factual interpretations associated with other temporal expressions are also noted. [Collapse]