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Contemporary linguistics, Vol. 41-42 No. 1-2, 1996.

Original scientific paper

Cold Colours in 19th-century English Literature

Jaroslav Peprnik ; Palacke University, Olomouc

Full text: english pdf 106 Kb

page 503-517

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Abstract

The paper is a frequency survey of five colour terms (black, white, grey, green, blue) used
in 55 novels by 10 foremost 19th-century British writers. Both basic colour terms and
terms with motivators have been registered - the latter (123 in all) are classified according
to their semantic fields and morphological-syntactical types. The number of occurrences of
white is equal to the combined occurrences of black and grey; with blue 50 p.c. more motivators
are used than with green. Usage differs considerably with the writers but no particular
colour dominates the perception of any writer. The author does not see any conflict between
the universalist theory of Berlin-Kay and the relativist theory of Sapir and Whorf.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

24425

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/24425

Publication date:

3.6.1996.

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