22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Gender-Based Differences in Color Naming Lexicons
Ashlee Stoddard
Dr. Sally Cook, Faculty Mentor
Color naming lexicons have long been topics of interest in the study of linguistics. However, it is only recently that the issue of gender and color naming has been studied in any depth. Introduced by Robin Lakoff in her classic monograph Language and Woman's Place, the topic has generated much speculation and introspective thought, but little empirical research. This paper seeks to add to the body of knowledge concerning gender and color naming by examining color naming choices in internet-based apparel retailing targeted toward male or female consumers. Through the analysis of the color naming choices of three retailers, this study found that differences between color naming choices in male and female apparel that were prominent in past studies, such as the usage of basic color terms and non-standard descriptors, have become less prevalent in contemporary marketing.
Keywords: linguistics, color naming, gender
Topic(s):Linguistics
English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 44-1
Location: OP 2117
Time: 1:15