Does your vocabulary change the way you see the world?

Science · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: We often assume color perception is purely biological. However, new research suggests that the words available in your native tongue might actually dictate how quickly your brain distinguishes between different shades. Scientists found that having multiple names for a single hue can significantly accelerate the speed of visual recognition.

While the human eye's ability to perceive color is rooted in biology and the physics of light, the way we categorize the spectrum varies significantly across cultures. Language acts as a filter for these sensory inputs. For instance, English uses a single word, 'blue,' to cover a wide range of shades. In contrast, Russian distinguishes between 'siniy' for dark blue and 'goluboy' for light blue. Studies have shown that this linguistic distinction allows Russian speakers to differentiate between these two shades faster than English speakers. This cognitive speed is not unique to humans, as even bees possess a remarkable capacity to perceive various shades and detect ultraviolet light to locate nectar.

To examine how bilingualism influences this, scientists from UiO and NTNU conducted new studies. By studying individuals who speak both Lithuanian and Norwegian, the team observed a dynamic interaction between language and perception. Lithuanian, much like Russian, possesses distinct terms for light blue ('žydra') and dark blue ('mėlyna'), whereas Norwegian uses the single term 'blå'. This phenomenon is not merely academic; color coding is vital for safety, such as using specific maritime signal flags or red signs to signal danger.

The study, led by master's student Akvile Sinkeviciute and involving professors Mila Vulchanova, Julien Mayor, and Natalia Kartushina, found that a bilingual person's ability to distinguish shades changed depending on which language they were using during the task. This occurs because the brain responds to the activated language, connecting sensory impressions to specific linguistic concepts. This 'code switching' demonstrates a two-way relationship: language can activate cognitive categories, and our cognitive mechanisms can, in turn, influence the development of language. The research, published in the journal Language Learning, highlights how the brain's ability to receive and process information is intrinsically linked to our linguistic systems.

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