Welcome to our topic, Denotation and Connotation of Words! Denotation and connotation are two important aspects of your skill and expertise in wielding words as an aspiring communicator. As you start wielding words to make your meaning come across, you must pay particular attention to the exact meaning you want your readers to get from you. You must remember that words, powerful as they are, can mend or break relationships, build and tarnish reputations, and above all, can make you successful or can spell your doom. Most importantly, you must never forget that words, once uttered or given, can’t be retracted anymore. Hence, it is with hope that this lesson will help you to be keen users of words and maximize your writing faculty towards perfection. Are you ready to wield words as your powerful tool? Jump in!
“It’s only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away…” ~ Words (The Bee Gees)
Intended learning outcomes (ILOs)
At the end of this topic, you must be able to:
- Identify the correct denotation and connotation of words in given examples
Denotation and Connotation of Words
Denotation refers to the dictionary meaning of words. This is the direct, specific, exact and concrete meaning of a word. This is the meaning you would find in a dictionary. In other words, this is the primary meaning of a word. Examples:
- MOTHER: a female parent (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
- HOLLYWOOD: an area of Los Angeles, California, USA known as the center of American movie industry
Connotation refers to the attitudes, feelings and emotions aroused by a word. A connotation of the word is the suggestive meaning of it which includes all possible words we normally associate to a word. In other words, this is the secondary meaning of a word. Examples:
- MOTHER: Attitude – positive; Feeling – love and warmth; Emotion – security and warmth
- HOLLYWOOD: glitz, glamour, tinsel, celebrity, stardom
Connotation and denotation are not two separate things/signs. They are two aspects/elements of a sign, and the connotative meanings of a word exist together with the denotative meanings. Hence, connotation represents the various social overtones, cultural implications, or emotional meanings associated with a sign or word. Denotation represents the explicit or referential meaning of a sign. Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, the ‘dictionary definition.’
Choosing the Right Words
Separating grammatical denotation from connotation is important because while one might assume that a word’s denotation is fully intended, whether a word’s connotations are intended is much more difficult to determine. Connotations are often emotional in nature, and thus if they are intended, it may be for the purpose of swaying a person’s emotional reactions rather than the logical evaluation of an argument.
If there are misunderstandings about how a person is using a word in a particular debate, a primary source of that misunderstanding might lie in the word’s connotations: people might be seeing something not intended or the speaker may be intending something people don’t see. In constructing your own arguments, it’s a good idea not merely to look at what your words denote, but also what they connote. The relationship between words and meanings is extremely complicated, and belongs to the field of semantics. For now, though, what you need to know is that words do not have single, simple meanings. Hence, you need to be extra careful in choosing the right words for your intended meaning.
A word can have positive or negative connotations. Sometimes words have different connotations to different people because of their experiences. Scientists and philosophers focus on the denotations of words in order to communicate exact meaning. Writers of literature rely more heavily on connotation in order to evoke an emotional response in the reader.
Diction, an element of style, refers to the choice of words writers use to express ideas. Words convey more than exact, literal meanings, in which case they “connote” or suggest additional meanings and values not expressed in general dictionary definitions. Words that “denote” a core meaning are those that are generally used and understood by the users and the audience to represent an object or class of objects, an act, a quality, or an idea. However, because of usage over time, words that denote approximately the same thing may acquire additional meanings, or connotations, that are either meliorative known as positive connotations , or pejorative known as negative connotations. For instance, observe the meliorative terms (bold) and pejorative terms (underlined) below:
- THIN: slim vs. skinny
- FAT: curvy vs. obese
- HANDICAPPED: differently-abled vs. crippled
Exercise 1
Draw a star sign next to the word to indicate positive connotation and an asterisk on top of the word to indicate negative connotation on your yellow paper cut 1/2 cross-wise.
- a powerful stink vs. a powerful aroma
- a dynamic leader vs. a pushy leader
- old people vs. elderly people
- a daring plan vs. a reckless plan
- energetic children vs. wild children
- answered with arrogance vs. answered with confidence
- casual clothes vs. sloppy clothes
- an aggressive attitude vs. hostile attitude
- an easy-going friend vs. a lazy friend
- a calculated response vs. a thoughtful response
Now, let us see how meliorative and pejorative words are brought about by the attitude of the person wielding the words. The examples below are courtesy of A. Tuzlak (2010) of Bow Valley College, Library & Learning Commons, Writing -Denotation and Connotation Handout.
Loaded Words: Watch your connotations
Aunt Myrna is proud of her nephew George. Aunt Willa, by contrast, disapproves of everything George does. Let’s see how their different views of George determine the language they use.
- The fact is: George likes to save money when shopping.
- Aunt Myrna says: “He’s thrifty.”
- Aunt Willa says: “He’s stingy.”
Both of these words refer to saving money, but they have different connotations. “Thrifty” suggests that George is smart and knows how to find bargains. “Stingy” depicts George as greedy and lacking generosity.
- The fact is: George works hard.
- Aunt Myrna says: “He’s very focused on his job.”
- Aunt Willa says: “He’s obsessed with his job.”
Both of these words refer to paying close attention to something; however, “focused” implies that someone is interested in what they’re doing, while “obsessed” suggests that they are addicted to it.
- The fact is: George has a son and two daughters.
- Aunt Myrna says: “George has three children.”
- Aunt Willa says: “George has three brats.”
Some words seem more loaded with meaning than others. Politicians and advertisers try to choose words with positive connotations in order to make their message more appealing. On the other hand, if you are angry at someone, you may choose a word with negative connotations to describe them!
Consider this example:
- Meliorative: There are over 2,000 homeless in the city.
- Neutral: There are over 2,000 people with no fixed address in the city.
- Negative: There are over 2,000 vagrants in the city.
All three of these expressions refer to exactly the same people, but they will invoke different associations in the reader’s mind: a “vagrant” is a public nuisance while a “homeless” person is a worthy object of pity and charity. Presumably, someone writing an editorial in support of a new shelter would use the positive form, while someone writing an editorial in support of anti-squatting laws would use the negative form.
In this case, the dry legal expression “with no fixed address” quite deliberately avoids most of he positive or negative associations of the other two terms – a legal specialist will try to avoid connotative language altogether when writing legislation, often resorting to archaic Latin or French terms which are not a part of ordinary spoken English, and thus, relatively free of strong emotional associations.
Exercise 2
Categorize the following words as meliorative (positive), neutral, or pejorative (negative) by completing the table in your yellow paper cut 1/2 cross-wise. If you are not sure, look the word up in a dictionary. The first one is done for you as an example.
“I know what you said, but what did you mean?”
The connotation of some words—or the attitudes we associate with them—can easily be seen when we examine pairs of words that are essentially similar in meaning, but different in the favorable or unfavorable attitudes they evoke in most people. Expertly chosen words are more conducive in making your meaning easily understood by the reader or listener.
Examining the possible connotations of the word thin, let us examine their rankings from 1 (the most positive) to 5 (the most negative):
- slim – most positive
- slender
- thin – neutral
- bony
- anorexic – most negative
Dyadic Activity
Work with a pair. With your dictionary, rank the following words from 1 (being the most positive) down to the most negative.
- imprison, relocate, incarcerate, intern, evacuate, detain, lock-up, confine
- uprising, riot, demonstration, unlawful gathering, protest, disturbance
- prisoner, evacuee, internee, detainee, inmate
- guerilla, freedom fighter, mercenary, soldier, terrorist, militant
- internment camps, detention camps, assembly centers, concentration camps, prison camps, relocation centers, temporary detention centers
- vacation, break, holiday, intermission, recess, layoff
Exercise 3
Read each of the following sentences. Decide from the context whether the speaker is showing approval or disapproval of the topic. Then circle the best word to put into the sentence.
- “The sooner we move out of this (home, dump),” said Jack, “the happier I’ll be.”
- This cell phone is (expensive, overpriced), but I don’t mind paying extra because it has so many useful features.
- You’re lucky to have Wilma on your committee. She has lots of (original, crazy) ideas.
- Boss Reed and his (cronies, employees) have controlled the politics in this city for more than twenty years. I certainly hope the other party wins this year!
- It was a beautiful spring day, and the (stench, scent) of apple blossoms filled the whole yard.
- I hope I don’t have to share an office with Janice. Sandra told me how (curious, nosy) she can be.
- “I think Fay is an excellent president,” said the principal. “She really knows how to (manage, meddle).”
- Will you please turn your stereo off? I can’t concentrate with all that (music, noise).
- I love going camping and getting in touch with nature. The woods are filled with so much (vermin, animal life).
- What makes Jim such an excellent storyteller is his knack for (invention, lying).
- Mr. Benton had better watch out for that new assistant of his. He’s a (clever, crafty) one.
- I have a lot of respect for Jenny’s father. He’s rather (reserved, antisocial) and dignified.
- My brother can’t stand his mother-in-law. She’s practically a millionaire, but she’s about as (thrifty, miserly) as a person can get.
- This coffee is very (bitter, strong) – just the way I like it!
- Can you please ask the new saleswoman not to be so (enthusiastic, pushy)? She is scaring away the customers.
References
- Fernandez, E. et al. (2013). A Worktext in English 2: Writing in the Discipline. C & E Publishing.
- Serrano, J. & Ames, T. (2009). Advanced Composition. National Book Store, Inc.
- https://www.slideshare.net/RRbaldovino/denotation-and-conotation-22417159