Final answer:
The most common color distinction starts with black and white, followed by red, green and yellow, blue, brown, and finally one of either purple, pink, orange, or gray. These stages reflect a universal pattern for naming colors across different cultures. Linguistic studies suggest that language can influence color perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common color differentiation that develops in predictable stages is between black and white (or light and dark), which represent the first stage in the elaboration of color terms. If a culture has only two color terms, those two will always be for black and white. The next color that is commonly differentiated is red. Following red, the other colors that become distinguishable are green and yellow, which may be added in either order. Subsequently, blue and brown are added to the color vocabulary. Finally, one of the following colors is included into the scheme: purple, pink, orange, or gray. Berlin and Kay's research on color term systems in various languages suggested that there is a universal pattern for how colors are named in different cultures.
This finding also plays into further studies about linguistic universals and linguistic relativity, demonstrating how language can affect perception. People with distinct terms for blue and green in their language tend to recognize these colors more clearly as separate entities.
Understanding how color perceptions and terms develop can provide insight into the realms of art, design, and even human cognition.