Sound-grapheme-color Associativity in Komi-permyak Language (Vowels)

The article deals with preliminary results of experimental investigation of the sound-grapheme-color associativity of vowels in Komi-Permyak language. The obtained data on Komi-Permyak language is interpreted in the context of data in Russian, English and other Romano-Germanic languages, obtained using the same procedure. It is established, that the sound-grapheme-color associativity of graphons A [a] and O [o] presents a universal phenomenon with high degree of probability. The relative dependence of color associativity of vowels on the initial consonant and the following vowel in color denomination was established. It was established that Komi-Permyak graphons do not have stable and regular link with colors, the names of which are borrowed. It is possible to assume that the letters of the native language are connected with the original color denominations. A tendency of Komi-Permyak vowels, being attracted to chromatic color grade (red, blue, yellow), is revealed.


Introduction
Sound-grapheme-color associativity was investigated in many languages, and it has a long tradition.
The article presents the results of the experiment, aimed at revelation of stable and regular associative links between the color and graphons of Komi-Permyak language.The obtained data on Komi-Permyak language is interpreted in the context of data in Russian, English and other Romano-Germanic languages, obtained using general procedure (Zhuravlev, 1974;Prokofieva, 2008).It is being established that the sound-grapheme-color associativity of graphons A [a] and O [o] presents a universal phenomenon with high degree of probability.Relative dependence of color associativity of Komi-Permyak vowels on the letter-sound composition of color denominations was revealed.A tendency of Komi-Permyak vowels, being attracted to chromatic color grade (red, blue), is revealed.

Specificity of Investigation
Modern investigations usually involve online-questionnaire (S.Day: http://www.synesthete.org/index.php;O.V. Opredelennova: http://q-eng.host56.com/)or the use of special computer programs, but in life realias of Komi-Permyaks, these types of questionnaire become difficult due to many reasons.Firstly, Komi-Permyaks predominantly present the rural ethnos (there is only one city in Komi-Permyak district -Kudymkar -with the population of nearly 30000 people) with rather low level of computerization.Secondly, the situation of unipolar bilingualism required the study of linguistic consciousness, which was subject to the influence of Russian language least of all, i.e. rural undereducated habitants of the older generation, who do not have computers.
That is why a series of experiments was carried out as individual (the habitants of villages of the Komi-Permyak district) and group (the students of Philological Faculty of the Komi-Permyak Department of the Perm State Humanitarian-Pedagogical University) questionnaire from 2009 to 2014.

The Experiment Procedure
The respondents were suggested a questionnaire with the Komi-Permyak alphabet and a list of color denominations (colored in corresponding color) in Komi-Permyak and Russian languages with graphic distinguishing of Komi-Permyak name: vezh (yellow), gird (red), rud (grey), korichneviy (brown), liz (blue), sid (black), zeleniy (green), chochkom (white).It was suggested to relate a graphon to the colors from the list, but it was not prohibited to write the color at the choice of the respondent.The additional colors were received: orange, violet, pink, scarlet.
The experimentator (Komi-Permyak language speaker) showed a card with the letter and pronounced a sound (i.e.sounding and writing of the graphon is presented), and the respondents wrote a color in the questionnaire opposite to the letter.The respondents were suggested to use the language, in which the colors will be written (Russian or native).The spontaneity of associations was provided by the dynamic regime of the questionnaire filling.

Reliability and Selection of the Experiment
The experiment reliability was provided by the delayed replicated experiments (group questionnaire), the results of which did not come into contradiction with the previous ones, as well as the expectation of urban (Kudymkar city) and rural (Zyryanovo, Petukhovo, Pelym, Kuzmino, Proshino villages of Kochevk region; Chazevo, Podyachevo, Kosa villages of Kosinsk region) population of Komi-Permyak district within six year.
Experimental integrity requires the obligatory delayed repetition, using the similar methods, that is why questioning of Komi-Permyak speakers was carried out at intervals within six years.At that, the participants of the prolonged experiment were both new informants (the habitants of different Komi-Permyak villages) and those, who participated in the experiment earlier (the students of the Komi-Permyak Department of the State Humanitarian-Pedagogical University).
The repeated experiments did not come into contradiction with the previous one: the increase of number of informants gradually resulted in strengthening of veracity of obtained data.In numerical expression, it provided the increase by 1-2%, rarely -by 3%.
There were obtained 186 inquiry forms, where 6510 reactions were revealed, including 32 (0.5%) refusals, 5631 (86.5%) reactions in Komi-Permyak and 846 (13%) of reactions in Russian.It is meaningful that the inquiry form was in Russian, but the respondents were oriented at the native language.Let us consider the results within the interval of 25% of reactions and above to be consistent results, the ones within the interval from 15 to 24% to be relatively consistent.Within the confidence interval, there are the graphons, color associativity of which lies within the interval from 9% to 14%, i.e. exceeds the threshold of random coincidence, but significantly drops behind the absolute mass selection.

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The most frequent, regular and stable associative links of color and Komi-Permyak graphons are located in the area of red and blue spectrum (Figure 1-2).
The data (Figure 1) on graphons Я [ja] (52% reactions), A [a] (43% reactions), У [u] (30% reactions ) can be considered as reliable for red color (the reactions raspberry-red and scarlet were also taken into consideration); relatively reliable - A tendency of attraction of practically all vowels to red spectrum in the consciousness of Komi-Permyaks is obvious.The same tendency is also noted in the sphere of blue color (Figure 2).
The data on graphons Ю [ju] (33% reactions) and Ы [y] (26% reactions) can be considered as reliable for blue color (the reactions sky-blue, violet and turquoise were also taken into consideration).High degree of conformity is observed for the vowels It is interesting, the blue and red colors dominate in color scale of clothes of Komi-Permyaks (Figure 3).It is possible to assume that red and blue colors are of special significance for the culture of Komi-Permyaks.

Figure 3. The habitants of Peshnigort village at the festival
There is no reliable data on yellow spectrum (Figure 4).The data on the graphons Е [je] (20%) -Э [è] (20%); i [i] (15%) can be considered as relatively reliable.High degree of conformity is observed for the vowels Figure 4. Sound-grapheme-color associativity of yellow color The coloristics for black (Figure 5) and white (Figure 6) colors does not get the satisfactory results.

Figure 5. Sound-grapheme-color associativity of black color
The data on the graphons Ы [y] (16%), i [i] (16%) can be considered as relatively reliable for black color.

grapheme-color associativity of white color
The data on the graphons A [a] (17%), O [o] (23%) can be considered as relatively reliable for white color.
The coloristics for grey (Figure 7), green (Figure 8), orange (Figure 9) and brown (Figure 10) colors does not get the satisfactory results.Table 1.A matrix of sound-grapheme-color associativity of the Komi-Permyak vowels

Color
Komi-Permyak graphons BEZH (yellow) In Komi-Permyak language, color denomination руд (rud) is understood both as grey and carrot (fox) colors.There are no denominations of brown color in Komi-Permyak language: there is a denomination of "earth color" in Komi-Permyak language, and the color denomination korichneviy (brown) was borrowed from Russian.In the villages, the habitants refused not only to determine the link of graphon and brown color, but even to link the brown color with any notion.The color denominations zeleniy (green), oranzheviy (orange) also present Russian borrowings.
As a result of data reduction, the matrix of sound-grapheme-color associativity for the vowels of Komi-Permyak language was compiled (Table 1).One and the same graphon in different lines of the table demonstrates the multiplicity of its color evaluation by the respondents.Relatively reliable data (15-24% of reactions) is denoted in normal font, the reliable results (from 25% and above) are shown in semi-bold.
Let us consider the factors, influencing the grapheme-color synaesthesia in Komi-Permyak language.

Features of Speech Sound.
It is impossible to correlate clearly expressed color characteristic of vowels with the characteristics of sounds, denoted by letters.It is observed a tendency of blue spectrum of high vowels and yellow -mid vowels.Red spectrum is typical of high and low vowels.

Grapheme Leading Role
It is noted that, when determining the colors of letters/sounds, grapheme plays the leading role (Cytowic, 1989;Motluk, 1997;Witthoft & Winawer 2006), as the color associativity frequently depends on the initial consonant and following vowel in color denomination.However, this tendency is not absolute for Russian and English languages (Prokofieva, 2008).This tendency is not proved in Komi-Permyaks bilinguals for native and Russian languages for red/gird, black/sid, white and vezh (yellow) colors (Figure 11).
"Color nominations have a significant impact on the associativity of graphons, however, this impact is not absolute, but "directive".<…> the inner capacity of the sound for intermodal links and its "attraction" to one or another physical color of the spectrum could become the basis for its linguistic denomination" (Prokofieva 2008, p. 217).

Grapheme and Phoneme
Separate experiments (Day, 2001) show that color perception of the grapheme and sound differs insignificantly

The Influence of Bilingualism
As the Komi-Permyaks are the natural bilinguals and speak Russian fluently, it is possible to assume the impact of Russian language on the sound-grapheme-color associativity of Komi-Permyaks.
Let us compare the obtained results (Table 2) on Komi-Permyak language with the data on Russian and English languages (Prokofieva, 2008).
Table 2.A matrix of sound-grapheme-color associativity of the Komi-Permyak, Russian and English vowels The comparison of data on Komi-Permyak, Russian (supposed impact on the synaesthesia) and English languages shows that the impact of bilingualism on the sound-grapheme-color associativity is not determinative.
In whole, the data on Komi-Permyak language coincides with the results, obtained in Russian and English languages (they are underlined in the Table 2).
Besides, the argument for the hypothesis about insignificant impact of bilingualism on the sound-grapheme-color associativity is that the Komi-Permyak graphons do not have the stable and regular link with colors, the names of which are borrowed from Russian (green, orange, brown).This fact allows speaking about the existing role of "native" letters with original color denominations.

Universality and Specificity
Romano-Germanic languages Komi-Permyak language According E. Sepir and S. Tsuru, color associations of consonants are nationally conditioned, and the phonosemantic potential of vowels allows referring their associativity to universal phenomena (Sepir, 1993;Tsuru, 1933).The data on English, Russian (Prokofieva, 2008) and Komi-Permyak languages do not prove this statement.
The evaluations for the graphon А [а] (Figure 13) coincide in all languages in the red spectrum; they partially coincide for the graphon О [o] in white and yellow areas (Figure 14).
Romano-Germanic languages Komi-Permyak language Russian language English language It is illegally "to search for the coincidences for the other graphons (Figure 15), due to articulatory differences of the pronounced sounds and positional interchanges" (Prokofieva, 2008), what requires additional check.

Romano-Germanic languages (i [i]) Komi-Permyak language (i [i])
Romano-Germanic languages (е) Komi-Permyak language (и [i]) Figure 15.Color associativity of the graphons И [i] (Komi-Permyak), i (Romano-Germanic and Komi-Permyak), Е (Romano-Germanic) It is possible to assume that sound-color associativity of the graphons А [a] and О [o] with high degree of probability presents a universal phenomenon, as the associativity of the rest vowels is nationally conditioned, what requires the additional check.Thus, the specific Komi-Permyak graphons i [i] (Figure 15) and Ö [pronounced as i in English girl] (Figure 16), which are absent in Russian and cannot be subject to the impact of bilingualism, do not have clearly expressed color.Our experiments show that the Komi-Permyak graphons do not have the stable and regular links with colors, the names of which are borrowed from Russian (green, orange, brown).This fact allows speaking about the existing link of "native" letters with original color denominations.
At the material of 98 languages, B. Berlin and P. Kay (1969) showed that the system of color denominations passed seven stages in its development (Figure 17).At the stage I, the language lexically distinguishes two colors: black, involving dark tones, and white, involving all light tones.The category "red" appears at the stage II; it involves all shades of red, orange, yellow, brown, pink and violet.Yellow and green are distinguished at the stage III, and the filling of the categories "white" and "black" narrows.At the stages III and IV, there can be two variants of development, as yellow and green appear one after another randomly, but not simultaneously.
The rule of evolution of color denomination, according to B. Berlin and P. Kay, is the following: if the language has color denominations of the definite stage of development, it is obliged to have all color denominations of the previous stages.Thus, if the language distinguishes the category "blue", it also has the names for white, red, green and yellow colors.
In the evolution of color terminology in languages, according to B. Berlin and P. Kay (Figure 17), the formation of color denomination of blue (stage V) follows yellow and green (III-IV stages).Psychological experiments also point at this: when distinguishing green square, the reaction time of Russians and Komi-Permyaks is practically the same, but to distinguish the blue square, Komi-Permyaks spend much more time, that Russians (Goncharov & Knyazev, 2010).
In Komi-Permyak language, "the failure" of the evolutionary scheme under review takes place: Komi-Permyak language has the color denomination for blue лöз (liz) (V stage) and for grey -руд(rud) (VII stage) colors, but there are no names for green (III-IVstages) and brown (VI stage) colors.It complies with the theory of B. Berlin and P. Kay, where some exceptions were mentioned.
As per calculations of ethnolinguists, there is no more than 5% languages (predominantly of Slavonic group) in the world, where blue and sky-blue have self-designation.At the same time, in many languages, the whole green-blue range is denoted by one color, and there exist much more names for the warm red-yellow range.
This tendency is noted in Komi-Permyak language: indivisible character of green-blue (the lack of Komi-Permyak denomination for green), but the presence of warm yellow and red color denomination.At present, there are no main terms to denote orange, pink and violet colors.
Despite the radical differences in verbal mark of color intervals, people of different cultures perceive the colors similarly, i.e. they tend to distinguish the same focal colors.The easily named (red, green and blue) and difficultly named colors, for which there are no names in the language, are distinguished.
Thus, it is possible to assume that the easily named (identified) main colors (the formedness of color denominations in the language) have the greater degree of coincidence, the less degree of coincidence in evaluation of graphons color in Komi-Permyak language is connected with the peculiarities of color picture of the Komi-Permyak world.
In the sphere of vocalism, it is also possible to assume the mythological impact of sound-grapheme-color associativity in Komi-Permyak language.The obtained data allows speaking about the attraction of Komi-Permyak vowels to chromatic colors (red, yellow, blue), which are the symbols of middle world in the culture, whereas achromatic colors, symbolizing top (white) and bottom (black) worlds, are not associated with vowels.
Namely, the world of people is presented in obvious colors, generalized in yellow, blue and red colors, which dominate in Komi-Permyak culture.Green color in Komi-Permyak culture was not endued with special meaning, only in the end of the XX century, a special color denomination of green began to appear.It is pointed out by the fact, that Komi-Permyak denomination of green was borrowed from Russian language -зеленöй (zeleniy).
It is possible that "not all graphemes in the language have the similar associative possibilities, and that it is connected with the peculiarities of human brain activity rather than the language peculiarities" (Prokofieva, 2008, p. 215).

Conclusion
Our experiment provided us with the satisfactory results on four vowels of the Komi-Permyak language (У [u], Я [ja], А [a] of red color, Ы [y], Ю [ju] -of blue color), color associativity of which lies within the significant numbers (from 25% to 52% of reactions).
As per our data, color characteristics of vowels in Komi-Permyak language does not have the one-value link with the characteristics of sounds, denoted by letters.
The data of our experiment shows the relative dependence of color associativity of vowels on the initial consonant and following vowel in color denomination.
In our experiment, high conformity of reactions for separate graphons in the sphere of yellow and blue spectrums points at the insignificance of differences in color perception of the phoneme and grapheme.
In near-core and peripheral areas, Komi-Permyak vowels get the same characteristics, as in the Indo-European languages.The evaluations for the graphon А [a] coincide in the red area of spectrum; they partially coincide for the graphon O [o] in white and yellow areas.
It is possible to assume that color associativity of the graphons А [a] and О [o] with high degree of probability presents a universal phenomenon, whereas the associativity of the rest vowels is nationally conditioned, requiring the additional check.
At the same time, our experiments show that Komi-Permyak graphons do not have the stable and regular link with colors, the names of which are borrowed (green, orange, brown).This fact allows speaking about the existing link of "native" letters with the original color denominations.
We also assume the mythological impact on sound-grapheme-color associativity in Komi-Permyak language.
The tendency of Komi-Permyak vowels to the spectrum of chromatic colors (red, blue, yellow) is but

Figure 11 .
Figure 11.Relative dependence of color associativity on initial consonant in color denomination

(Figure 12 .
Figure 12.Color associativity of English graphemes and phonemes (according to S. Day)

Figure 16 .
Figure 16.Color associativity of the graphon Ö [pronounced as i in English girl]

Figure 17 .
Figure 17.Evolution of development of color denominations according to B. Berlin and P. Kay