A Corpus-Stylistic Analysis of Color Symbolism in Sidhwa’s Water

Abstract

This non-empirical corpus stylistic study examines the use of colors and their significance in
supporting the theme in Sidhwa’s Water (2006). The study has explored the way colors are used
symbolically in the novel along with their frequency, regularities and collocations. Corpus
stylistics is used as a method of analysis of the text. The findings are based on the qualitative
part, supplied by textual analysis, whereas AntConc software provided and analyzed
quantitative data, revealing the frequency and regularities in the use of particular color words.
The key arguments reveal that the white color (used 79 times) symbolizes the theme of
widowhood to give voice to ‘husbandless’ women living on the margin of society. The second
most used color, red (40 times), accounts for Indian culture, marriage and gods. The blue (19
times) color symbolizes freedom, intuition, calmness or the color of open spaces, whereas the
black (18 times) is associated with death, patriarchy, power and authority. The study will aid in
the understanding of themes, characteristics, and the author's style of using colors to create
meaning in Water.