Connotation and Denotation 8th grade English Mrs. Hull

Popular Cars of the 1960s Thunderbird Falcon Charger Comet Mustang Barracuda How are these names effective in evoking powerful associations to the listener or reader? What kind of performance could you expect from each of these cars? Why do you think these names were selected, and for what kind of buyer?

Popular Cars of the 1970s Rabbit Pinto Colt Civic Starlet Gremlin How are the associations we make with these names different? What kind of performance could you expect from each of these cars? Who might you expect to buy them? Why do you think these names were selected?

CONNOTATION Defined as: the associations that people make with a word. Contrast with the DENOTATIVE value of a word, its more literal meaning

For example: CHICKEN has a particular connotation depending on the listener: To a restaurant owner To the child who has to gather eggs each day To someone who has been pecked by chickens and is afraid of them

What Does the Word Chicken Mean in the Following Titles? What feelings are associated with “chicken soup”?

Now for your assignment! Divide into groups of four to five and complete only ONE of the activities on your Automobile Names Connotation Activity Handout