This project is part of a wider investigation into the the relationship between colour and language, produced for my MA Graphic Design Major Project. It uses still life photography to document objects that share the same name as a colour. It aims to highlight the relationship between descriptive colour terms and the objects that give them their names.

1. Colourful
Language
MA Graphic Design
Major project Visual Research
Eleanor Maclure 2012

2. A gentle reminder of the connection between
the words we use and the colours we see
Say What
You See

3. Say What you See Visual Research Presentation
Since we developed the use of language, we have borrowed words
from things in the world around us to describe the colours that we
see. Even what we now think of as abstract colour terms like ‘black’,
originally referred to something else like ‘night’.
The word for pink originally came from flowers known as pinks (from
the genus Dianthus) due to their frilled petal’s relation to the 14th
century verb ‘to pink’, still used today in the term ‘pinking sheers’. Our
language has evolved dramatically since then and, as with so many
words, the ties to its origin have virtually been lost. Far removed from
its beginnings, the word ‘pink’ is now widely understood as referring to
the rosy band of hues ranging from salmon to magenta.
Introduction

4. Say What you See Visual Research Presentation
Introduction
Of the eleven basic colour terms that we have in English, only orange
is still regarded as descriptive, attributed to the hue of a ripe orange.
Originally derived from Sanskrit, the word first appeared in English, in
the 14th century, after the Persian and Arabic form, nãranj, was adopted
by European languages.
Compared to the millions of hues our eyes can detect, our colour
vocabulary is startlingly limited. English has evolved to include
thousands of words for colours, and yet only a tiny percentage of these
exist as abstract terms. Most are re-appropriated from tangible things
like lemons and lavender, as an attempt to articulate even a fraction of
the colours we experience.

5. Say What you See Visual Research Presentation
Introduction
This project does not aim to present a true reproduction of the colours
of objects. Rather it is a visual reminder of where some of our words
for colours come from, their inherently descriptive nature and their
undeniable connection to the often mundane objects in the world
around us.

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Cream

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Almond

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Sand

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Oatmeal

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Ginger

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Champagne

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Sulphur

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Primrose

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Lemon

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Mustard

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Gold

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Honey

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Apricot

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Amber

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Orange

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Rust

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Marigold

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Peach

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Shell

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Eggshell

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Salmon

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Brick

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Copper

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Terracotta

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Paprika

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Tomato

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Melon

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Raspberry

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Berry

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Fuchsia

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Rose

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Plum

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Cherry

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Wine

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Thistle

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Heather

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Aubergine

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Grape

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Amethyst

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Lavender

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Violet

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Blueberry

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Slate

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Turquoise

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Jade

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Aquamarine

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Sage

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Mint

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Avocado

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Kiwi

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Lime

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Pistachio

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Moss

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Olive

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Stone

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Biscuit

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Cinnamon

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Walnut

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Toffee

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Caramel

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Chestnut

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Chocolate

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Cocoa

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Coffee

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Charcoal

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Mushroom

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Oyster

140. Colourful
Language
Eleanor Maclure 2012
http://eleanormaclure.wordpress.com/
http://issuu.com/eleanorbydesign/docs/say_what_you_see