RL 8.4: Denotation and Connotation
Published on Nov 21, 2015
No Description
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
RL 8.4: Denotation and Connotation
Miss Koga
What is denotation?
It is the literal or actual meaning of a word. It is the direct meaning of a word. It is the strict dictionary meaning of a word.
Why do authors use denotation?
It is used in the documents to state the meaning clearly and without misconstruing the details.
Denotation is used in formal writing such as business letters, instructions, non-fiction, applications, resumes, and many other formal works.
Photo by scottkellum
Example of Denotation
What is connotation?
It is the emotional and imaginative association/connection surrounding a word. It's all about "word choice."
Why do authors use connotation?
Authors use connotation to further develop or complicate the meaning of a text. It makes the text more exciting. The reader gets to make a personal connection to the text.
Examples of Connotation
“You may live in a house, but we live in a home.”
Photo by Sabrina Campagna
If you were to look up the words house and home in a dictionary, you would find that both words have approximately the same meaning- "a dwelling place."
Photo by Stuck in Customs
However, the speaker suggests that home has an additional meaning.
Photo by Nina Matthews Photography
If you say, "My house is around the corner," you could literally be saying that the house is at the corner of the street, or you can be implying that it's close by.
Connotation can depend on the person who hears the word and brings his or her own associations or connections to it.
Photo by PatrickMcNally
Some words have negative or positive connotations.
Photo by rishibando
Positive Connotation:
We bought INEXPENSIVE souvenirs at the amusement park.
Photo by WilliamMarlow
What can affect or impact the connotation?
How can I make an impact on the way you interpret or connect with a word?
Photo by SergioTudela
Tone and Context
Photo by sillypucci
Tone: How I feel about a word and how I say it.
Photo by Reportergimmi
Angry Tone: "Please don't talk to right now."
What is your connotation or interpretation?
Photo by Werner Kunz
Polite Tone: "Please don't talk to me right now."
What is your connotation or interpretation?
Photo by kevin dooley
Context: the situation or the circumstance of the event.
Photo by ecstaticist
Angry tone in classroom setting (context): "Please don't talk to right now."
What is your connotation or interpretation?
Photo by srgpicker
