This paper examines the Berlin-Kay color salience theory and offers four correlates of color salience: earliness of introduction, brevity of expression, frequency of use, and frequency of mention in ethnographic literature. All four correlations support the Berlin-Kay theory. The authors suggest that salience may be “an important general principle of cultural evolution” (1107).

This paper examines the Berlin-Kay color salience theory and offers four correlates of color salience: earliness of introduction, brevity of expression, frequency of use, and frequency of mention in ethnographic literature. All four correlations support the Berlin-Kay theory. The authors suggest that salience may be “an important general principle of cultural evolution” (1107).

The research presented in this book challenges the notion that languages develop color terms independently of other languages. Authors find a universal inventory of eleven basic color categories from which the basic color terms are drawn. Authors also find an apparent fixed sequence of evolutionary stages through which a language must pass as its color vocabulary increases. A postive correlation between cultural complexity and complexity of color vocabulary is observed.

Using a sample derived from the available folk tale literature, researchers test whether the salience of color terms in folk tales follow the evolutionary sequence put forth by Berlin and Kay (1969). Results support the hypothesis.

This article examines the variation in color naming and susceptibility to visual illusions cross-culturally. Results suggest a geographic patterning of color naming and illusion susceptibility which parallels the distribution of eye pigmentation.

This study investigates whether associations between color and temperature are universal or reflective of relative aspects shared by cultural variation. The authors hypothesize that while some color–temperature links may be shared across cultures, others may vary by cultural and developmental factors. Using an online survey with children and adults worldwide comparing 20 colors, they find universal associations in hues (e.g., red/yellow = warm, blue = cool), but cultural specificity in tones (lightness/saturation). Developmental effects were also explored and were shown to have different cultural trajectories. The conclusion was that color–temperature associations are both universal and shaped by culture and development, which highlights how much cultural influence have in the development of the perceptions to color and temperature.

The cross-cultural test on preindustrial societies is a very minor part of a larger work testing the theory that a psychological factor--need for achievement--plays a large role in understanding economic growth and decline. Most of the work focuses on countries and complex societies in the historical past.

The authors design and implement two tasks requiring linguistic and non-linguistic spatial reference across a linguistically-diverse sample in order to examine the relationship between language and cognition cross-culturally. The results, which indicate large conceptual variation in frame of spatial reference across as well as strong correlation between use of absolute descriptors and absolute cognitive representations within language communities, suggest that language structure may actively shape the systems of spatial representation available to different cultural groups.

This study examines possible correlates of the couvade. Results suggest that matri-residence, mother-infant sleeping arrangements, and low male salience all are associated with the couvade.

This study investigates whether associations between color and temperature are universal or reflective of relative aspects shared by cultural variation. The authors hypothesize that while some color–temperature links may be shared across cultures, others may vary by cultural and developmental factors. Using an online survey with children and adults worldwide comparing 20 colors, they find universal associations in hues (e.g., red/yellow = warm, blue = cool), but cultural specificity in tones (lightness/saturation). Developmental effects were also explored and were shown to have different cultural trajectories. The conclusion was that color–temperature associations are both universal and shaped by culture and development, which highlights how much cultural influence have in the development of the perceptions to color and temperature.