Denotation and Connotation The Meanings of Words Denotation and Connotation

Denotation The strict dictionary meaning of a word

Connotation The emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word

Denotation vs. Connotation Denotation is the dictionary or literal meaning of a word. Connotative words imply emotions. Plump = a full, round. Fat = While similar in meaning to plump, it has a very harsh and mean tone.

Word Choice You may live in a house, but we live in a home. The connotation in this sentence is that a “home” is much more than merely the structure of a house.

The connotation of a word is often either positive or negative We bought inexpensive souvenirs at the amusement park. Negative We bought cheap souvenirs at the amusement park.

Which word has a positive connotation and which has a negative one? Everyone had a smirk on his/her face on the ride home. Everyone had a smile on his/her face on the way home. positive

Connotation: Negative I ate a soggy sandwich.

Another example… You look a little odd today. You look really weird today. Which one do think has a stronger, more negative feel to it?

Which word has a positive connotation? You Decide! average mediocre childish childlike spit saliva antique old-fashioned

Connotation Opposite of Denotation Implied Meaning May be Favorable or unfavorable

Which words have negative connotations? You Decide! 1. The (odor, fragrance) of apple blossoms filled the entire valley. 2. A (swarm, bunch) of bees filled the air near the hive.

Tone = Emotion The tone of the words is what evokes a certain emotion.

Let’s Play... Word Choice

Word Choice Positive Viewpoint Negative Viewpoint 100 100 200 200 300

Positive Connotation immature youthful Back to Game

Positive Connotation limit restrict Back to Game

Positive Viewpoint filthy dirty Back to Game

Negative Viewpoint stingy thrifty Back to Game

Negative Viewpoint cluttered messy Back to Game

Negative Viewpoint unusual weird Back to Game

Well Done!

Activity For this assignment you will need a dictionary and a thesaurus. Here are the steps to follow: Look up two different words of your choice in the thesaurus. Under each, locate four synonyms that you like. Write down the denotation of the five words in the group (should be the same denotation for all five). Give the connotation of each word in the group. (Each one should differ slightly.)

WORDS: fat, obese, plump, large, stout DENOTATION: being overweight or too heavy for your size. CONNOTATION: fat: a greasy, flesh way, lack of self control obese: clinical word, grossly overweight plump: pleasantly overweight, a bit round and cute. large: heavy, but also have a bigger frame than average; more flattering word than others stout: bulky and strong, like a football lineman

Let’s use the word HOT The denotation (or dictionary definition – remember d in denotation = dictionary) of HOT is: having a temperature higher than that of a human body. However, when you say “Man! He/She is hot!”, are you saying “Man! He is having a temperature higher than that of a human body!”? No!! You are saying the CONNOTATION of HOT – which could mean a variety of things – man he/she is cute, attractive, beautiful, and many other meanings – those come from personal experiences and cultural meanings, etc.