ABSTRACT
Clarity of language is achieved when we distinguish between using color terms to refer to the visual perception of an object and the physical characteristics of the object. For example, it can be argued that we should not refer to a “red” apple as being red. We see it as red because the surface of the apple has physical properties that refl ect certain wavelengths and absorb other wavelengths of the white light that illuminates it. If a “red” object is illuminated with “blue” light, most of the light will be absorbed and the object will be perceived as being black. Thus, when we identify an object as being red, we really mean that persons with normal color vision will generally perceive it as being red when it is illuminated with white light and viewed under normal viewing conditions.
