The functions of color terms in Irina Odoevtseva's autobiographical prose On the Banks of the Neva

When interacting with the world around us, we primarily rely on the sense of perception such as vision, one of its main functions being the recognition of color. The aim of the article is to identify the functions and semantics of color-denoting adjectives in Irina Odoevtseva's work On the Banks of the Neva. The primary source of material was the autobiographical prose On the Banks of the Neva, from which 267 statements were selected, featuring 46 adjectives with color semantics. The study employed the method of linguistic description. Contextual and quantitative analysis methods were used for lexical analysis. The study was conducted in several stages: (1) identification of words with color semantics in the text of the work; (2) systematization of color-denoting adjectives based on the objects they describe; (3) counting of the frequency of color vocabulary usage; (4) analysis of the functions and meanings of color adjectives based on the contexts in which they are used; (5) analysis of the figurative meanings of color adjectives. In On the Banks of the Neva, color adjectives play a significant role not only in creating vivid visual images but also in reflecting the author's emotional world and memories. Color serves as a powerful tool that aids in reviving memory and reconstructing images of the past. Odoevtseva's recollections are imbued with a range of colors. Irina Odoevtseva prefers to use color adjectives that are simple in structure and direct in meaning, avoiding complex and multi-component combinations. A characteristic feature of Odoevtseva's style is the introduction of series of homogeneous sentence elements, in which a particular color adjective is placed, forming contextual synonyms with adjectives of different semantics and linking them through associative connections. This technique allows the author to convey her personal perception of long-past events and people involved in them. The urban space is colored in muted tones. Black, white, gray, and blue set the overall tone of St. Petersburg, conveying its heavy and oppressive atmosphere. However, when describing the poets and the city's inhabitants, the colors become more diverse. Instead of dark shades, bright colors appear, contrasting with the city's grayness. This adds emotional depth to the images of the poets, setting them apart from the monotonous black-and-white world. Color adjectives reflect the cultural and social context, reveal the physical and emotional state of the characters and their social status, convey character traits, and shape the image of the city. In the analyzed work, the author organically and with utmost precision reproduces an important stage of her life and of society, which allows the text to be viewed as a document of its era. At the same time, the work is imbued with individual associations, including color-related ones, which defines its stylistic uniqueness. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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