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Colours and their Associations
In all cultures,
different colours have different associations. They have
symbolism and colour meanings. People respond to colours in
different ways. The colour produces a certain physiological
(connected with mind and body) and psychological (connected with
history, culture and education) effect on a person. People's
reactions to colours are instinctive and subconscious and
certain colours are tied with certain notions (for example, pink
is considered to be a romantic colour). Cool colours such as
blue, green, white, grey, and silver tend to have a calming
effect. On the one hand they are cold and impersonal. On the
other hand the cool colours are comforting and nurturing. Blue
has a calming effect and it can help you sleep. That is why blue
is a good colour for bedrooms. However, scientists say that too
much blue could dampen spirits. That is why the expressions 'to
feel blue' or 'to get the blues' mean 'to feel sad, unhappy,
depressed'. In many cultures blue is significant in religious
beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits
away. Blue, especially darker blue, is associated with
intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism. Navy blue is a
common colour for uniforms such as those worn by sailors and the
police. In Iran, blue is the colour of mourning while in the
West the bride traditionally wears something blue to bring her
luck. A deep royal blue or azure conveys richness and a touch of
superiority.
Green is
associated with life, spring, growth, renewal, health, and
environment. At the same time green means jealousy or envy and
inexperience. Green is known to calm the nerves and soothe
emotions. It is the national colour of Ireland. Coupled with red
green is a Christmas colour.
Grey is a
neutral, balanced and conservative colour. Grey seldom evokes
strong emotion although some people find it cloudy or moody. In
the US and UK, grey is connected with being dull and boring.
Like black, grey is used as a colour of mourning as well as a
colour of formality.
White is purity,
cleanliness, and virginity. In most Western countries women wear
long white dresses when they get married. It is a brilliant
colour that can cause headaches and that can be blinding. In the
East, it's the colour of mourning and funerals. Some cultures
considered white to be the colour of royalty or of deities.
Silver is cool
like grey but livelier and more playful. It often symbolizes
riches, just as gold does. Silver can be glamorous and
distinguished. The colour silver can be earthy, natural or sleek
and elegant.
Warm colours fill
us with joy and energy. Red, yellow, or orange can create
excitement or even anger. Warm colours convey emotions from
optimism to violence. In nature, warm colors represent change as
in the changing of the seasons, the sunrise or the sunset.
Red is a hot and
strong colour that evokes various emotions from passionate love
to strong violence. Red is the colour of both Cupid and the
devil. Red heart shapes and red roses represent romantic love.
Studies show that red raises blood pressure. Red is often
associated with power, that is why it is traditional to welcome
a king, queen, president, celebrities and VIPs to a place by
having a red carpet for them to walk on. Flashing red lights
denote danger or emergency. In some cultures, red symbolizes
purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the colour of happiness and
prosperity in China. Red is often worn by brides in the East
while it is the colour of mourning in South Africa.
Pink is a softer
red. In some cultures, such as the US and the UK, pink is the
colour that is worn by women and girls. It represents 'sugar and
spice and everything nice'. Most people consider pink to be a
feminine, delicate colour.
Yellow is
associated with sunshine. On the one hand it symbolizes
happiness, cheerfulness and joy. On the other hand yellow is the
colour of cowardice and deceit. If someone is 'yellow' it means
he is a coward. Yellow was the colour of mourning in Egypt and
actors of the Middle Ages wore yellow to signify the dead. Yet
yellow has also represented courage (in Japan), merchants (in
India), and peace.
Gold is the
colour of riches and extravagance. As gold is a precious metal,
the colour gold is associated with wealth and prosperity. In
ancient Egypt, gold was the colour of the Sun god and the symbol
of power.
Orange is
vibrant. It denotes energy, warmth, and the sun. Orange can be
found in nature in the changing leaves of autumn, the setting
sun, and citrus fruit. Orange brings up images of autumn leaves,
pumpkins, and Halloween. It is a colour of change between the
heat of summer and the cool of winter.
Black is
conservative, serious and conventional. It can also be
mysterious and sophisticated. It is typically worn at funerals
to show sadness and respect in most Western countries. Black is
associated with death and evil (black magic). Black, especially
combined with orange is the colour of Halloween. Black clothes
are often worn to social occasions in the evening.
Brown is a
natural, down-to-earth colour. It is found in nature: in earth,
wood, and stone. Brown symbolizes wholesomeness and earthiness.
It also represents steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness,
dependability, and health.
It is difficult
to imagine the world without colours. They surround us
everywhere and constitute an important part of our lives.
Colours help people communicate non-verbally. Besides, colours
make our lives brighter and influence our emotions. Life without
colours would be dull and uninteresting.
1. Read the following sentences and circle TRUE or FALSE:
1) Cool colours tend to have a calming effect T|F|
2) Too much blue makes you feel happier. T|F|
3) Green is the national colour of Scotland. T|F|
4) Yellow is a colour of formality. T|F|
5) In the East, white is the colour of mourning and funerals.
T|F|
6) Warm colours convey emotions from optimism to violence. T|F|
7) Red is the colour of impatience and agression in China. T|F|
8) Pink represents 'sugar and spice and everything nice'. T|F|
9) Orange is associated with death and evil. T|F|
10) Brown symbolizes wholesomeness and earthiness. T|F|
2. Complete each sentence (A-J) with one of the endings
(1-10):
A. In many cultures blue is significant in religious
beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to
B. A deep royal blue or azure conveys
C. Green is associated with
D. In the US and UK, grey is connected with
E. Some cultures considered white to be the colour of
F. In nature, warm colors represent
G. Red is often associated with power, that is why it is
traditional to
H. Most people consider pink to be
I. Black is typically worn at funerals to
J. Brown also represents
1. royalty or of deities.
2. welcome a king, queen, president, celebrities and VIPs to a
place by having a red carpet for them to walk on.
3. show sadness and respect in most Western countries.
4. richness and a touch of superiority.
5. change as in the changing of the seasons, the sunrise or the
sunset.
6. steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, and
health.
7. life, spring, growth, renewal, health, and environment.
8. keep the bad spirits away.
9. being dull and boring.
10. a feminine, delicate colour.
3. Read some expressions containing different colours. Match
them with their meanings. Give your own examples
1. blue collar 2. true-blue 3. blue blood 4. bluestocking 5. to
feel blue 6. green card 7. green light 8. green fingers (green
thumb) 9. green-eyed monster 10. to look green around the gills
11. grey mat¬ter 12. grey area 13. white elephant 14. white flag
15. white collar 16. silver-tongued 17. silver screen 18. to see
red 19. red alert 20. red carpet 21. red herring 22. pink collar
23. goldbrick 24. black-tie 25. blackmail 26. brown goods
A. completely loyal and faithful;
B. natural skill in making plants grow well;
C. able to give fine persuading speeches, eloquent;
D. a worker who does hard or dirty work with his hands;
E. to feel sad or depressed;
F. brain power, the power of thought;
G. jealousy;
H. parties and other social occasions at which people wear
evening dress;
I. something that is big and valuable but useless or unwanted;
J. a document necessary in order to work legally in the US;
K. a person who works in offices or at professional jobs;
L. the film industry;
M. a situation of sudden great danger;
N. female office worker;
O. a worthless thing that appears to be valuable;
P. the quality of being a nobleman or noblewoman by birth;
Q. to look pale, sick;
R. a special ceremonial welcome to an important guest;
S. a sign that one accepts defeat;
T. electrical goods bought to provide entertainment, such as
TVs, home computers etc.
U. a situation or subject that is difficult to deal with because
it is not clear;
V. a woman who is thought to be too highly educated;
W. to be angry;
X. a fact or subject which is introduced to draw people's
attention away from the main point;
Y. the practice of obtaining money by threatening to make known
unpleasant facts about a person;
Z. permission to begin an action;
4. Read and translate the proverbs and sayings containing
colours. Explain their meaning
• The grass is always greener on the other side of the
fence.
• All cats are grey in the dark.
• Every cloud has a silver lining.
• The devil is not as black as he is painted.
• True blue will never stain.
• There is a black sheep in every flock.
• The kettle calls the pot black.
• Neither fish nor good red herring.
5. Answer the questions
1) What can you say about cool/warm colours?
2) Why is blue good for bedrooms?
3) Green has conflicting meanings, doesn't it? What can you say
about this colour?
4) What do many people think of grey colour?
5) What does white symbolize?
6) What does silver convey?
7) What emotions does red usually evoke?
8) What is red associated with in different cultures?
9) Why is gold associated with wealth and prosperity?
10) What images does orange bring up?
11) What is your favourite colour? Why do you like it?
12) Why are colours important in our lives?
6. Read and translate the quotations below. Choose any
statement and comment on it
• 'Man needs colour to live; it's just as necessary an
element as fire and water.' (Fernand Leger)
• 'The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love
colour the most.' (John Ruskin)
• 'There are no lines in nature, only areas of colour, one
against another.' (Edouard Manet)
• 'With the brush we merely tint, while the imagination alone
produces colour.' (Theodore Gericault)
• T cannot pretend to be impartial about the colours. I rejoice
with the brilliant ones, and am genuinely sorry for the poor
browns.' (Winston Churchill)
Points for discussion. Prepare a short speech on one of the
following topics.
1) The language of colours.
2) The importance of colours in people's lives.
3) Colours and their effect on people's psychology.
4) Colours and fashion.
5) Colour personality tests.
A. What do you associate these colours with?
black blue green brown yellow red pink orange grey white
(sadness, life, envy, virginity, power, optimism, warmth,
elegance, depression, peace, unhappiness, violence, stability,
danger, inexperience, mourning, conservatism, renewal, mystery,
jealousy, coolness, boredom, purity, love, joy, deceit,
happiness, earthiness, energy, excitement, cowardice,
steadfastness, romance, formality, delicacy, simplicity, anger,
friendliness, heat, cheerfulness)
B. Read the text 'Colours and their Associations' and say
what facts you have learnt about colours.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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