Welcome to Mrs. Hemelberg's English Class



DENOTATION/CONNOTATION

Connotation and Denotation are two principal methods of describing the meanings of words. Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most words naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of a word that might be found in a dictionary

Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, the "dictionary definition."¨ For example, if you look up the word snake in a dictionary, you will discover that one of its denotative meanings is "any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions."

Connotation, on the other hand, refers to the associations that are connected to a certain word or the emotional suggestions related to that word. The connotative meanings of a word exist together with the denotative meanings. The connotations for the word snake could include evil or danger.

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. Words have both denotations (literal meanings) and connotations (suggestive meanings).

EX: Fungus is a scientific term denoting a certain kind of natural growth,

but the word also has certain connotations of disease and ugliness.

DENOTATION/CONNOTATION EXERCISES

I. For each pair of words and a phrase, list the one that is positive in the “Positive Connotation” category, the one that is negative in the “Negative Connotation” category, and the phrase that is a more neutral definition for both words in the "Denotation" column.

Your Choices:

1. gaze, look steadily, stare

2. fragrance, odor, smell sensed by the olfactory nerve

3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another

4. delayed, not on time, tardy

5. somewhat interested, nosy, curious

6. lazily, without haste, leisurely

7. ask of someone, demand, request

8. gathering, a large group, mob

9. slim, skinny, less than average build

10. discuss with others, debate, argue

11. observe, watch, spy

12. a young age, youthful, immature

13. not having a care, irresponsible, carefree,

14. unique, not commonly found, strange

15. find, detect, snoop

16. inexpensive, fairly priced, or cheap

17. isolation, privacy, opportunity to be alone

18. assertive, firmly confident, pushy

19. extravagance, generosity, giving much,

| |Positive Connotation |Denotation |Negative Connotation |

|1 | | | |

|2 | | | |

|3 | | | |

|4 | | | |

|5 | | | |

|6 | | | |

|7 | | | |

|8 | | | |

|9 | | | |

|10 | | | |

|11 | | | |

|12 | | | |

|13 | | | |

|14 | | | |

|15 | | | |

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|17 | | | |

|18 | | | |

|19 | | | |

Define denotation: _________________________________________________________________________

Define connotation: ________________________________________________________________________

II. Choose three words from the table above. Write a sentence in which the word appears, the word’s part of speech, its denotation, and positive or negative connotations associated with it.

Example:

1. Word: fragrance Part of Speech: noun

Sentence using the word: The candlemaker chose a pleasing, spicy fragrance for her old friend’s candle.

Denotation: a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve

Connotation: fragrance (positive)

Synonym with different connotation: odor (negative)

2. Word: _______________________________________ Part of Speech: __________________________

Sentence in which word appears:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Denotation: ______________________________________________________________________________

Connotation: _____________________________________

Synonym with different connotation: __________________________________________________________

3. Word: _______________________________ Part of Speech: __________________________

Sentence in which word appears:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Denotation: ______________________________________________________________________________

Connotation: _____________________________________

Synonym with different connotation: __________________________________________________________

4. Word: _______________________________________ Part of Speech: __________________________

Sentence in which word appears:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Denotation: ______________________________________________________________________________

Connotation: _____________________________________

Synonym with different connotation: __________________________________________________________

III. Practice shifting your viewpoint so that you can describe the same object both favorably and unfavorably. You can do this by first using words with a positive connotation and then switching to words with a negative connotation. Choose three of the descriptions below. Using at least 3 of the WOW we have study, write a short description that is favorable and a short description that is unfavorable.

For example, you might describe a banana as either sweetly ripe or mushy, depending on the desired connotation.

Describe a wet street after the rain.

Describe a college or professional football game.

Describe a hamburger made in a fast-food restaurant.

Describe a group of three or four teen-age girls walking down the street together.

Describe a new regulation for student parking on campus.

Describe a recent movie or television program.

1. _______________________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________________________

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