Re: Debate opens anew on language and its effect on cognition

From: Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Wed Feb 20 2002 - 06:01:42 GMT

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Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 01:01:42 -0500
Subject: Re: Debate opens anew on language and its effect on cognition
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From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
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    On Tuesday, February 19, 2002, at 10:39 , Grant Callaghan wrote:

    > The color yellow, for instance, does not imply cowardice in Chinese as
    > it does in English. But it does have connotations of sex, just as it
    > does for us.

    I remember a film called 'I am curious, yellow', but I didn't see it,
    and I never did know why 'yellow'. So, why? I don't think it's a usanian
    connotation, at least it's not one I've ever encountered. In fact, I'm
    hard pressed to find _any_ color that has a direct sexual connotation,
    with the possible exception of red, as in 'red-light district'.

    Interestingly, there is a new musical theatre piece called 'Contact',
    which has a strongly sexual episode with a character known only as the
    'Girl in the Yellow Dress'. I've read some reviews, but nothing I've
    read ever remarked upon any direct connotative device being utilized,
    only that the dress' color contrasts vividly with the rest of the
    characters' outfits and the stage setting itself.

    So, what and why yellow? Or, has it happened that yet another facet of
    sex passed me by?

    - Wade

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