some light yellow material

Status
Not open for further replies.

meliss

Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2006
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Hi, I'd like to know what is descibed by the "light" - colour or material?
"She was dressed in some light yellow material, with small puffed sleeves, and carried a big straw hat in her hand." (The Landauers, Christopher Isherwood).
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
If Isherwood was a very careful writer (or had a fastidious editor) and was trying to describe the color, he might have hyphenated light-yellow to mark it as a compound adjective. There's no way to know. Unless the weight or color of the fabric features as a later plot point, the reader can understand it either way.
 

jutfrank

VIP Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
I'm much more swayed towards the material being lightweight.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top