amber/yellow lights

[Drew Danielson]

Back in the day of monochrome computer monitors, however, the the color
choices were largely limited to "white", "green", and "amber".  I recall
this "amber" being a softer color than the "yellow" of the average
middle "traffic light" (or "stop light", as they say in these parts).

Is it possible with traffic lights that a difference in hues accounts
for the difference in terms?


"A. Maberry" wrote:
>
> I've heard both, although "yellow" seems much more common. I seem to
> remember my grandparents calling it an amber light, not yellow. Maybe it's
> a generational thing.
>
> allen
> maberry at u.washington.edu
>
> On Wed, 28 Nov 2001, Lynne Murphy wrote:
>
> > Hello again,
> >
> > In the UK the middle color on a traffic light is 'amber' but I grew up in
> > the US calling it 'yellow'.  I'm now confused about whether I've heard it
> > as 'amber' in the US as well.  Does anyone use 'amber'?  If so, is it
> > limited to certain regions or traffic control jargon?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Lynne
> >
> > Dr M Lynne Murphy
> > Lecturer in Linguistics
> > Acting Director, MA in Applied Linguistics
> > School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences
> > University of Sussex
> > Brighton BN1 9QH
> > UK
> >
> > phone +44-(0)1273-678844
> > fax   +44-(0)1273-671320
> >