THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLOR NAMING AND COLOR RECOGNITION ABILITIES OF PRESCHOOLERS.

The effect of language on memory was tested using 33 4-year-old children. Their ability to name and remember colors was measured. Recognition accuracy was significantly related to the children's ability to name colors. However, chronological age, mental age, and IQ were significant confounding factors in the relationship between naming ability and/or use and recognition accuracy. There was a significant tendency on the part of all the children to use their own color name categories to inhibit extracategorical responses when making recognition choices. The results are discussed in relationship to production and mediation deficiency, and in terms of the Whorfian hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]