In a recent post, Sylvie explained that the Breton language in northern France has one word for both blue and green (related to the word for "sea"). Since that is a Celtic language (if I understand correctly), I �m wondering if this is true of other Celtic languages. Can any of you help me?

 

Thanks,

Bruce

Bruce,

Then again, in the words of the late, great Scottish linguist, Jim McCawley, I �ve already told you more than I know about this.

Piseach!

Alex

I �ve read that the distinction between colours is not the same in English & in Celtic languages. For example, in Welsh glas means blue ( it can refer to the sea, grass or silver). In Breton, glas means 1/ blue, 2/ green when it �s a �natural � colour ( eg sea). [ when it �s artificial, the word is gwer].

In Irish, glas means green - & gwrm means dark blue. I found an example of Scottish Gaelic too, with  gorm ( colour extending from dark blue to dark green.)

Just these few examples - there are many other ones.

There are lots of �other � languages that do not distinguish blue, green or even black.

I �m not a specialist, though, but I find these notions highly interesting, & that �s what I meant the other day : When someone is asking for what seems to us a very �easy & simple � translation, that notion might not exist in his/her own language...My  example of colours comes from a former colleague of mine ( now retired) who told me she had lots of difficulties at school when a kid, because she �d been brought up by her grandparents who could only speak Breton ;eg  the girl did not understand the difference between the 2 French words : Bleu & vert. (Blue & green )...She could only see one colour...

Kenavo! ( Bye )

Sylvie

 

Bruce