Denotation and Connotation The dictionary definition. The additional meaning a word may carry.

Essential Question: How does understanding shades of meaning and positive and negative connotations help you to be a better reader? Objective: distinguish among the meanings/connotations of words with similar denotations

Is there more to a word than how it is defined in the dictionary?

connotative and denotative Yes, there is more. In fact, every word has at least two definitions: connotative and denotative So, what’s the difference?

The denotative definition is based on the________definition of a word. The connotative definition is the________________________ meaning of a word. literal figurative or emotional

Connotation The emotional associations of a word or phrase, as opposed to its exact meaning. “Greasy” has a denotation meaning slippery but also has a connotation when referring to a “greasy” person. greasy ? greasy ?

The connotative meanings of a word exist together with the denotative meanings. The denotation of the word snake is “any of numerous scaly, legless, and sometimes venomous reptiles” The connotations for the word snake could include evil or danger.

Connotation Positive Negative We bought inexpensive souvenirs at the amusement park. I ate a moist sandwich. I am a bargain shopper. Negative We bought cheap souvenirs at the amusement park. I ate a soggy sandwich. I am a cheapskate.

Positive or Negative Connotation Which One? Positive or Negative Connotation

Positive Connotation immature youthful

Positive Connotation limit restrict

Positive Connotation filthy dirty

Negative Connotation stingy thrifty

Negative Connotation cluttered messy

Negative Connotation unusual weird

Well Done!

The word “gaze” has the following synonyms gape, stare, glare, peer, gloat GAWK: _______________________________________________ Example

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.

Choosing the right word can make all the difference Choosing the right word can make all the difference. even words similar in meaning can end up being a compliment or a criticism depending on when you use them. words can share a similar meaning (denotation), but the feelings associated with each (connotation) are very different. Read the following sentence. The baby was very clever. It already knew how to crawl into a room without making a sound. How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “cunning” instead of word “clever”? A. The baby would seem sneakier. B. The baby would seem cuter. C. The baby would seem stupider. D. The baby would seem louder.

What is the “charge” of the word “influential” in this passage? By definition, synonyms are words or phrases that have the same denotation (literal meaning). But synonyms almost always have different connotations (shades of meaning). Essentially, words have three “charges”: positive, negative or neutral. This means that words can be used to create a positive, negative or neutral feeling. Depending on the situation, words can move from one charge to the next. Read the following sentence. “He’s very influential in the clowning community,” she whispered to her friend, pointing to the tall man in loose pants and rainbow suspenders striding across the room. “He’s a great artist. Balloon animals have never been the same.” What is the “charge” of the word “influential” in this passage? A. Positive B. Negative C. Neutral D. Extremely negative

The denotation of a word is its literal definition as listed in a dictionary. Here's a good way to remember what denotation means: denotation is the dictionary definition of a word. D is for dictionary and denotation. Read the following sentence. The hedgehog was ecstatic—she had found a hole to burrow into, and she happily settled beneath the ground, excited to sleep the day away. Based on the context clues, what is the denotation of the word “ecstatic” in the passage? a. overly intelligent b. greatly impressed c. extremely happy d. often late

“I probably can,” she insisted, “I mean, how hard can it be, right?” Connotation is the emotional meaning of the word. It's what the word brings to mind. Words can have negative, neutral or positive charges. That means they can be used to create a negative, neutral or positive feeling. Read the following sentence. After winning the spelling bee, Bridget became cocky. “I can spell any word in the universe,” she insisted loudly, even in places where it was not required to spell things. Like at the movies with her friends. Her best friend, annoyed, said, “I bet you can’t spell a word in German.” Bridget did not speak German. “I probably can,” she insisted, “I mean, how hard can it be, right?” What is the charge of the word “cocky” in this passage? A. positive B. negative C. neutral D. extremely positive

A. The man would seem less lazy. B. The man would seem funnier. “Lazy” and “inactive” share the denotative meaning of not doing much or not doing anything. But there are vast differences in connotation. Would you rather be called “lazy” or “inactive”? The emotional meaning of the word “lazy” is far more negative than the more neutral word “inactive.” Read the following sentence. The man stretched slowly, then continued his sluggish walk down the street. How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “unhurried” instead of word “sluggish”? A. The man would seem less lazy. B. The man would seem funnier. C. The man would seem more talented. D. The man would seem more talkative.

A. The writer would seem unafraid. “Smacked” and “bumped” share the denotative meaning of hitting something or someone. But “smacked” implies a greater intensity of the contact whereas “bumped” seems milder and more accidental. Read the following sentence. My grandmother is thrifty. She never throws out old clothes and saves all her jars to reuse as glasses. How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “cheap” instead of word “thrifty”? A. The writer would seem unafraid. B. The grandmother would seem unknown. C. The writer would seem seem uncertain. D. The grandmother would seem ungenerous.

A. The painter would seem more pathetic. The phrases “a thunderous shriek” and “a loud sound” both literally mean a loud sound. But which would you be more afraid of? “A thunderous shriek” or “a loud sound”? “A thunderous shriek” suggests a more intense sound. Because of the word “shriek,” which means to cry out in a high- pitched voice,” the sound is associated with fear. Read the following sentence. “How could you do this?” The painter screeched. “How could you paint that wall blue? It should clearly be orange.” How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “whimpered” instead of word “screeched”? A. The painter would seem more pathetic. B. The painter would seem more powerful. C. The painter would seem more joyful. D. The painter would seem more intelligent.

A. The flamingos would seem friendlier. “Army” and “herd” share the denotative meaning of many or a great number. But which sounds more fearful? An “army” of something makes you think of a battle or conflict. But you wouldn't normally associate a “herd” with the intent to fight or destroy. Read the following sentence. A flock of flamingos slowly picked their way across the lawn towards the gupta family where they stood, waiting. How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “mob” instead of word “flock”? A. The flamingos would seem friendlier. B. The flamingos would seem more elegant. C. The flamingos would seem more indifferent. D. The flamingos would seem more threatening.