1. International Connotations of Colors By Dr. Jennifer L. Bowie For Business Writing

2. Green & Blue Green: –Positive (US): growth, clean, fresh, environmental, “go” –Negative (US): mold, nausea, and jealousy –Historic Europe: fertility (wedding gown color in 15 th century) –Has political connotations in Ireland (Republic of Ireland) –Egypt and Saudi Arabia (and middle east?): Islam and scared –China: infertility or adultery –Countries with dense green jungles: disease (Hoft) –France, Netherlands, Sweden: cosmetics (Hoft) –Thailand: least favorite color (Hoft) Blue: –Positive (US): serenity, the sky, infinity –Negative (US): sadness (feeling blue) –“Safe” in almost every culture (Morton) –Hopi Indians: sacred (Hoft) –Egypt: truth (Hoft) –Iran: negative consequences (Hoft)

3. Black & White Black: –West: mourning, death –France: the unknown, death, night, work –East: bad luck –Malaysia Indian population: evil (Hoft) –Malaysia Malay population: courage (Hoft) White: –East: mourning, death –India: “Inviting widowhood” if a woman wears (Kolin178) –West: purity (color of bridal gowns) –France: monarchy, royalty –Christianity: purity, faith, innocence (Hoft) –Hinduism & Muslim: purity, peace (Hoft)

4. Red & Yellow Red: –West: courage and love –China: happiness and good fortune (preferred for wedding gowns) –France: masculinity (Hoft) –Africa: blasphemy or death (Hoft) –US flag: blood –Traffic signal color “stop” Yellow: –China: imperial color, revered –US: people’s least favorite color but a happy color –France: jealousy –Many countries: femininity (Hoft) –Australia, Europe, Canada, New Zealand: positive, happy (Hoft)

5. Purple & Pink Purple: –Historical West: royalty, mourning –France: religion, sacredness –US: magic, lavishness, homosexuality –Catholic Europe: death and crucifixion –Middle East: prostitution (Morton) –Latin America: bad luck, death, and funerals –China: barbarity (Hoft) –Culturally “unsafe” color Pink: –East India: feminine color (Morton) –US: baby girls get pink, innocence, sweetness, soft, gentleness –Japan: pastels are neither masculine nor feminine (Morton) –France: homosexuality

6. Have fun & design and write well!