Vernacular Wisdom

Vernacular architectural languages and dialects  were created by millions of people over thousands of years. 
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Just like the verbal languages, architectural languages combine everyday insights of thousands and millions of individuals and the wisdom built up in a few architectural patterns that evolved through time.
Can we a posteriori rationalize the patterns we find?
The colors, vertical openings, juxtaposition of buildings, textures, immediacy to water, are they the reason for the richness of experience? 
Or the reason is in a sort of architectural Tao that can not be named, explained or expressed in words? Apparently it has to be lived unintentionally.