This paper is to demonstrate the varied metaphorical meaning of the color term black. Despite the fact that colors play an important role in everyday life and occur everywhere, they do not receive much attention. Therefore, using the example of black the author’s intention is to illustrate the importance of a color and the correlations people unconsciously make. First of all, with the help of some literature and common phrases in society, positive and negative associations of black are collected. Afterwards the grouped characteristic significances of black are compared to two dictionaries, namely the Oxford English Dictionary and the Longman English Dictionary to see if there is a difference between the symbolism of black and its original denotation. Following the metaphorical meanings of black are collocated by means of The Corpus of Contemporary American English to analyze its actual occurrences in language use. Concluding, black has a wide range of meanings, but is predominantly combined with a negative connotation. Some associations only exist in society or special literature, because the transfer to sorrow or death cannot be found in a dictionary or corpus. This is because dictionaries and the corpus cover the general and literal linguistic usage of black and not its entire symbolism, which arose over a period of years and does not explicitly contain the word black.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction to the effect of colors
- Associations with Black
- Antithesis of black and white
- Negative connotations
- Positive connotations
- Dictionary entries of black
- Comparison with corpus
- Description of methodology
- Corpus-based research
- Critical discussion of results
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper explores the multifaceted metaphorical meaning of the color term "black." Despite its ubiquitous presence in everyday life, the color black doesn't receive extensive attention. This paper uses the example of black to demonstrate the importance of color symbolism and the unconscious connections people make. It delves into both positive and negative associations of black, comparing these to dictionary definitions and analyzing actual language usage through a corpus-based study. The paper ultimately demonstrates that black carries a wide range of meanings, with a predominantly negative connotation.
- The metaphorical meaning of black
- Positive and negative associations of black
- The impact of color symbolism on human perception
- The role of culture and language in shaping color meaning
- Comparison of symbolic and literal meanings of black
Chapter Summaries
The paper begins by outlining the significant role of color in human experience and highlighting the need for greater attention to color symbolism. It establishes black as a color term with a layered metaphorical meaning.
The subsequent sections delve into the associations with black, exploring its position as the antithesis of white, embodying principles of darkness, negativity, and death. It provides a comprehensive overview of the negative connotations linked to black, drawing examples from everyday scenarios, culture, and literature. These negative connotations are then contrasted with a smaller range of positive associations, focusing on black as a symbol of strength, power, and sophistication.
Further sections delve into the dictionary entries of black, comparing them to corpus-based research to uncover how the word's literal and symbolic meanings differ in actual language use. The paper then concludes with a critical discussion of its findings, highlighting the complex and diverse meanings associated with the color black.
Keywords
This paper explores the metaphorical meaning of black, its positive and negative associations, and its usage in language and culture. It examines the symbolic role of color in human perception and analyzes dictionary entries and a corpus-based study to shed light on the multifaceted nature of color symbolism. The paper delves into the concept of the "color term" and its connection to both literal and metaphorical meaning, demonstrating how cultural influences shape our understanding of color.
- Quote paper
- Lena Groß (Author), 2012, The Metaphorical Meanings of the Color Term Black, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269072
