Cones to words: linking vision and speech
Humans can distinguish a large number of different colours but use a much smaller set of category labels, such as “orange”, in their everyday colour communication (e.g., describing garment colours). Our interdisciplinary project investigates the relationship between seeing and naming colours under diverse viewing conditions and in different languages. By combining methods from vision, cognitive and computer sciences, we aim to develop a novel colour naming system that will empower better cross-cultural communication. This will lead to significant advances for understanding the complexity of colour categorisation, which will have impacts across multiple disciplines and practical applications.
Research Overview
Human vision
Our research explores the mechanisms of human vision, focusing on how we perceive and interpret the visual world. We investigate the physiological and neurological processes that allow us to detect light, adapt to, and perceive colour, contributing to a deeper understanding of visual perception and its implications for technology, design, and communication.
Linguistics
The lab delves into the fascinating intersection of language and colour perception, studying how different cultures and languages name and categorize colours. By examining cross-linguistic variations and universals in colour naming, we uncover insights into the relationship between language, cognition, and visual experience.
Computational models of colour naming
We develop and refine computational models that predict how people name and categorize colours across diverse populations. These models integrate data from laboratory and online studies to advance our understanding of color communication.
Project Funded by Leverhulme Trust
