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a reinterpretation of color nomenclature systems 1
Author(s) -
COLLIER GEORGE A.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
american ethnologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.875
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1548-1425
pISSN - 0094-0496
DOI - 10.1525/ae.1975.2.1.02a00060
Subject(s) - referent , reinterpretation , interpretation (philosophy) , bayesian probability , color coding , linguistics , decoding methods , coding (social sciences) , meaning (existential) , computer science , psychology , artificial intelligence , natural language processing , mathematics , algorithm , epistemology , philosophy , statistics , aesthetics
Encoding and decoding are related aspects of communication both influenced by the relative frequencies of referent attributes according to a Bayesian probability model. The model explains why labels communicate well about referents that do not typify them, why, for instance, “RED” can be used to talk about hair colors that are not bright red. When considered from the standpoint of communicative efficiency, labels impart more information when applied to atypical than to typical referents. This interpretation of the “meaning” of labels has implications for language evolution. These ideas are illustrated through an analysis of color naming in which coding is seen as a kind of communications channel.