语言与颜色cultureandcolour.doc

Culture American Culture ESL Culture and Values Color Meanings Beginners Web Design If you use color on your Web site, then you should be aware of how your audience views those colors. This is especially important if you are designing a site that is intended for an audience of a different culture than your own (or a global audience). The cultural basis for color symbolism can be very powerful, and if you dont understand what youre saying with your colors, you can make big mistakes. Learn more about color symbolism Red * China: Good luck, celebration, summoning * Cherokees: Success, triumph * India: Purity * South Africa: Color of mourning * Russia: Bolsheviks and Communism * Eastern: Worn by brides * Western: Excitement, danger, love, passion, stop, Christmas (with green) Orange * Ireland: Religious (Protestants) * Western: Halloween (with black), creativity, autumn Yellow * China: Nourishing * Egypt: Color of mourning * Japan: Courage * India: Merchants * Western: Hope, hazards, coward Green * China: Green hats indicate a mans wife is cheating on him, exorcism * India: Islam * Ireland: Symbol of the entire country * Western: Spring, new birth, go, Saint Patricks Day, Christmas (with red) Blue * Cherokees: Defeat, trouble * Iran: Color of heaven and spirituality * Western: Depression, sadness, conservative, corporate, something blue bridal tradition Purple * Thailand: Color of mourning (widows) * Western: Royalty White * Japan: White carnation symbolizes death * Eastern: Funerals * Western: Brides, angels, good guys, hospitals, doctors, peace (white dove) Black * China: Color for young boys * Western: Funerals, death, Halloween (with orange), bad guys, rebellion Cross-cultural differences in colour meanings are sometimes the least of our worries when communicating internationally. I have just finished off an article which is to appear in the next edition of