Diction: the author’s word choice. What specific words are he/she choosing to get his/her point across? Denotation: This is the LITERAL meaning of a word. Connotation: Ideas or feelings that a reader associates with a word. How does this choice of word make the reader feel?

Overbearing Aggressive Pushy Forward Bold Ambitious Example Diction: Pushy Denotation: Pushy literally means “using forceful methods to make others do what you want them to do : aggressive and rude” (Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary). Connotation: Pushy is usually associated with negative, hostel feelings. If an author describes a man who cuts others in line and complains loudly as “pushy,” the author is likely choosing this word to make you feel negatively about that character, as if he is self-important and rude. Negative Positive Overbearing Aggressive Pushy Forward Bold Ambitious

Levels of Diction Formal: Elevated/archaic Informal: Jargon Formal: Sir, Ma’am, use of proper names, absence of abbreviations, inclusion of a varied, academic vocabulary, polite, etc. Figurative language: metaphors, personification, alliteration, symbol, simile, etc. Archaic: Afright, laud, dame, naught, prithee, bethink, afeard, aught, foresooth, hither, bruit, quoth, etc. Informal: Jargon Specific to a profession: catalyzed, diagnostic, convergence, dynamics, synergy, hypothesis, paradigm, etc.

Levels of Diction Informal: Standard language Informal: Colloquial Standard English that is used in everyday conversations by people from a wide range of age groups. Informal: Colloquial Conversational language specific to a group: y’all, yonder, ain’t, bowed up, fixin, cattywompus etc. Ultra Informal (Low): Slang Tight, swag, salty, dab, aight, mob, fresh, slam, a suh dude, bruh, lit, etc. Courtesy of Tommy and Topper Man (Eben Bold)

Levels of Diction If you are sending an email to your teacher, you would use… If you were sending a text to your girlfriend/boyfriend, you would most likely use… If you were talking to your parents, you would most likely use… If you were writing a research paper, you would most likely use…

House vs. Home Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Chick vs. Lady Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Skinny vs. Thin Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Redonk vs. Absurd Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Intimate vs. Loving Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Apathetic vs. Bored Connotation What is the difference in denotation? What is the difference in connotation? Why choose one over the other? For what purpose?

Practice Using your notes and possibly a dictionary, gather in your assigned groups. Take the diction out of the bag. While these words have similar denotations, they have slightly different connotations. On your sheet of paper, write down the denotation, connotation, and level or diction for each word. As a group, arrange them in order from negative to positive connotation or less intense to more intense. The whole group must agree on the order and reasoning. On your sheet of paper, explain the arrangement of diction and give specific reasoning for each word’s placement on the scale. Negative Positive More Intense Less Intense

Example Good Attractive Stunning Appealing Pretty How would you arrange these words from most intense to least intense? Stunning Attractive Pretty Appealing Good More Intense Less Intense Why arrange them that way? What are the fine connotation differences in this diction?