Gender, age, and descriptive color terminology in some Caucasus cultures

This paper is based on field data (1989–1993) on color vocabulary from representatives of the ethnic groups of the North Caucasus (Kabardins, Circassians, Adygeis, Karachais, Balkars, Ossetians, Noghais, Abazins, Ingushes), Daghestan (Avars, Dargins), Georgia (Georgians, Azerbaijanis). The main results of the study of the differential impact of gender and age on the use of descriptive color terminology in some Caucasus cultures can be summarized as follows. Both factors turn out to be significant: both the elderly people (irrespective of their gender) and the females (irrespective of their age) tend to use significantly more descriptive rather than abstract color terms. On the other hand, the impact of gender factor is considerably stronger than the one of the age factor.