A COGNITIVE STUDY OF SENTIMENTAL EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING COLOURS USED IN ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE NOVELS

Abstract

My study examines the colour symbolism of sentimental expressions containing colours in the two novels Jane Eyre and The Great Gatsby together with their Vietnamese versions. The colour symbolism is employed throughout the whole novels which plays an important role in developing the amazing plots, shaping characters and deepening the themes. These colours were able to make a deep and huge impression on every reader because they run through the whole novels and they also contain a deep layer meaning wherever they intentionally appear, especially in sentimental expressions of notable characters. As far as I know, Western countries and Eastern nations in general or England and Viet Nam in particular, have their own respective cultural backgrounds, which leads to different cultural connotations of the same basic colours. In order to explain clearly the similarities and differences of sentimental expressions containing colours under cognitive linguistic viewpoints, I discussed the results of different language cultures, historical backgrounds, religious beliefs, modes of thinking, political systems, traditional customs and so on in Western and Eastern countries.