4. Color perception, color description and metaphor
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Martina Plümacher
Abstract
The contribution discusses prerequisites of linguistic representation of colors and color perception. In its first part, it points out strategies of color naming that aim at designating particular shades of colors as precisely as possible. The second part deals with descriptions of regular effects of interacting colors, for instance effects of artistic color compositions. The endeavor of painters to develop a technical language to speak about artistic and psychological effects of color compositions is analyzed. It is shown that speaking of particular shades of color and designating regular, inter-individual color effects requires established forms of categorizing them. Cultural techniques of illustrating colors and specific color effects are of crucial importance.
Abstract
The contribution discusses prerequisites of linguistic representation of colors and color perception. In its first part, it points out strategies of color naming that aim at designating particular shades of colors as precisely as possible. The second part deals with descriptions of regular effects of interacting colors, for instance effects of artistic color compositions. The endeavor of painters to develop a technical language to speak about artistic and psychological effects of color compositions is analyzed. It is shown that speaking of particular shades of color and designating regular, inter-individual color effects requires established forms of categorizing them. Cultural techniques of illustrating colors and specific color effects are of crucial importance.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- 1. Speaking of colors and odors 1
- 2. Color smell, and language: The semiotic nature of perception and language 19
- 3. How can language cope with color? Functional aspects of the nervous system 35
- 4. Color perception, color description and metaphor 61
- 5. Attractiveness and adornment 85
- 6. Color terms between elegance and beauty. The verbalization of color with textiles and cosmetics 113
- 7. Color names and dynamic imagery 129
- 8. From blue stockings to blue movies: Color metonymies in English 141
- 9. Odor memory 155
- 10. From psychophysics to semiophysics 167
- 11. Cognition, olfaction and linguistic creativity: Linguistic synesthesia as poetic device in cologne advertisement 185
- 12. Understanding synesthetic expressions 203
- 13. Olfactory and visual processing and verbalization 227
- Contributors 239
- Index 241
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- 1. Speaking of colors and odors 1
- 2. Color smell, and language: The semiotic nature of perception and language 19
- 3. How can language cope with color? Functional aspects of the nervous system 35
- 4. Color perception, color description and metaphor 61
- 5. Attractiveness and adornment 85
- 6. Color terms between elegance and beauty. The verbalization of color with textiles and cosmetics 113
- 7. Color names and dynamic imagery 129
- 8. From blue stockings to blue movies: Color metonymies in English 141
- 9. Odor memory 155
- 10. From psychophysics to semiophysics 167
- 11. Cognition, olfaction and linguistic creativity: Linguistic synesthesia as poetic device in cologne advertisement 185
- 12. Understanding synesthetic expressions 203
- 13. Olfactory and visual processing and verbalization 227
- Contributors 239
- Index 241
