A Corpus-Based Approach to Basic Colour Terms in the Novels of D.H. Lawrence

Abstract

In this paper, we will discuss the colour terms found in the novels of D. H. Lawrence. First, we will count the frequencies of the eleven basic colour terms appearing in his novels and compare them with those in other standard literary and non-literary data. This will show how Lawrence’s use of colour terms deviates quantitatively from the norms and what colour terms are especially important for the novelist. Then, we will focus on the four key colour terms most characteristic of Lawrence. By analyzing their collocational patterns, we attempt to clarify how those colour terms function in his fictional world.