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A very different approach to odors

Posted by Robin on 19 January 2018 2 Comments

What do we talk about when we talk about smell? Mostly other things. English speakers frequently describe a scent according to what it reminds us of, not using a specific name for the odor itself. [...]

But because a thing might hold true for Westerners or English speakers does not mean it is universal to the human experience. [Linguists Nicole Kruspe and Asifa Majid] are studying hunter-gatherer cultures in Asia, where people take a very different approach to odors. In 2014, Majid discovered that people who speak the Jahai language named odors as easily as English speakers identify colors.

— Read more at These hunter-gatherers are probably better at naming scents than you at The Washington Post.

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: olfaction

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2 Comments

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  1. Kanuka says:
    19 January 2018 at 1:04 pm

    I wish they had included some of the abstract names for odours. I wonder what they are? That’s fascinating. I’ll try to find out more.

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    • Robin says:
      19 January 2018 at 3:41 pm

      I wish they had given some examples too!

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