Colour terminology in Sukuma: lexical patterns, ecological salience, and cultural usage

This study examines colour terminology in the Sukuma language spoken in Tanzania, with particular emphasis on lexical patterns, ecological salience, and cultural usage. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design, with data collected from 12 Sukuma speakers through elicitation, interviews, and documentary review. Data were transcribed, translated and coded according to lexical categories of colour terminology. Purposive sampling was used to select Kwimba District as the study site, while snowball sampling facilitated the identification of key informants, including traditional healers, chiefs, and elders. Guided by Cognitive Semantics and the Basic Colour Terminology Model, the findings identify ten basic colour terms in Sukuma: pe ‘white’, pi ‘black’, za ‘red’, bhululu’blue’, lʊdʊʊtʊ ‘green’, lʊdingʊ ‘yellow’, bhʊgolo ‘brown’, mabhu ‘grey’, nzulunge ‘purple’, and ichʊngwa ‘orange’, approximating Stage VII of Berlin and Kay’s evolutionary framework, with pink colour not attaining the status of an independent basic term. The results further show that Sukuma colour terms are grounded in the natural environment and cultural referents. They are widely used across various cultural contexts, including standardised biblical texts, reflecting the integration of colour in the spiritual and everyday life of the Sukuma people. Overall, the study demonstrates the interplay between linguistic categorisation, perception, and cultural context.