Re: To Raymond (re: Uusisuom)

On Thu, 26 Apr 2001, Daniel44 wrote:
> For example, arguing that 'red should denote anger and not purple' is not a
> great criticism. People learning a language will be able to see the
> connection between red and embarassment and purple and anger. Equally,
Actually, I don't see that one.  I remember reading somewhere that red
was often associated with violence because it's the color of blood, and
embarrassment because people with skin light enough for it to show turn
reddish when they're blushing (well, if nothing else it's easier to tell
when my half-German boyfriend is blushing than when I'm blushing, and my
skin's a yellow not much darker than his pink-peach).  The
violence-connection might also have to do with why red might be anger
(anger leads to violence), and I think some people do turn reddish when
they're angry.  (If any turn purplish I've never seen it, though OTOH I
try not to get people around me mad.  :-p)  *Are* there any languages in
which purple denotes anger (assuming they have purple in a category all
its own)?  It might be worth reading up on the psychology of color,
including in various languages, on that particular point.

And hey, I like both colors--but purple is something I associate with
wine and violets and sunsets and peace and luxury, not anger.

<thinking>  Actually, this is more a symbolism-reference than a
psychology-reference (I can't remember the psych-ref offhand), but J.C.
Cooper's _Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols_ discusses
color symbolism in various cultures (European, classical, Chinese,
Indian, Japanese, and sometimes others are mentioned).

YHL