Errr, Saussure 101.
As atmasphere say, there needs to be a pretty broad consensus as to what a given word refers to, for speakers of a given language to communicate with each other. Obviously, meaning will still be fuzzy around the edges.
When words a used *metaphorically*, this adds a whole new layer of fuzziness, but people don't realize how much metaphorical usage is part of everyday speech.
Bright/dark has to do with visual perception (light, color) not sound.
Warm has to do with touch or taste.
It works the other way too: you can talk about a loud color.
BTW, this has nothing to do with synaesthesia, it's just standard metaphorical usage.
But metaphorical usage is open to a greater range of interpretation, because it's figurative, and because a given instance will have a different range of connotations (rather than denotations) for a given individual.
As atmasphere say, there needs to be a pretty broad consensus as to what a given word refers to, for speakers of a given language to communicate with each other. Obviously, meaning will still be fuzzy around the edges.
When words a used *metaphorically*, this adds a whole new layer of fuzziness, but people don't realize how much metaphorical usage is part of everyday speech.
Bright/dark has to do with visual perception (light, color) not sound.
Warm has to do with touch or taste.
It works the other way too: you can talk about a loud color.
BTW, this has nothing to do with synaesthesia, it's just standard metaphorical usage.
But metaphorical usage is open to a greater range of interpretation, because it's figurative, and because a given instance will have a different range of connotations (rather than denotations) for a given individual.