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Connotation and Denotation Powerpoint

Here are 10 sentences using words from the list with their intended connotations: 1. I had a relaxed weekend sleeping in. 2. The prudent investor diversified their portfolio. 3. She wore a modest dress to the event. 4. The time-tested techniques have stood the test of time. 5. The dignified judge oversaw the trial with poise. 6. Once he became stubborn, there was no changing his mind. 7. The newfangled gadget was more gimmick than useful tool. 8. The miserly uncle refused to share his fortune. 9. He was conceited about his good looks and charm.

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Dirick N. Ledda
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1K views

Connotation and Denotation Powerpoint

Here are 10 sentences using words from the list with their intended connotations: 1. I had a relaxed weekend sleeping in. 2. The prudent investor diversified their portfolio. 3. She wore a modest dress to the event. 4. The time-tested techniques have stood the test of time. 5. The dignified judge oversaw the trial with poise. 6. Once he became stubborn, there was no changing his mind. 7. The newfangled gadget was more gimmick than useful tool. 8. The miserly uncle refused to share his fortune. 9. He was conceited about his good looks and charm.

Uploaded by

Dirick N. Ledda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Connotation and

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

Yes, there is more. In fact, every


word has at least two definitions:
connotative and denotative

So, what’s the difference?


Denotation
This is the “dictionary definition” of a word.

Find the denotation of the following words:

Tyrant-

Erosion-

Exponential-
Online Dictionary
Connotation
Many words have multiple meanings or can be
implied to mean something other than the
definition we find in the dictionary.

Connotation is the emotional and


imaginative association surrounding a
word
•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.
Here is a sample of a word that has
denotative meaning and connotative
associations:
“She’s my baby.”
Denotation
infant
Connotation
girl friend
The denotative definition is based on
literal
the________definition of a word.
The connotative definition is
figurative or emotional
the________________________
meaning of a word.
Your turn to analyze
word choices.
For each of the following
sentences, explain why the word
or words in bold are not good
choices for the sentence. For
example, it might not be a good
time to use the denotation of a
word because it’s too scientific.
#1

• Trip and journey are


both words whose
denotation means to
travel, right?

• What is the
connotation of each?
(Hint: What would you
pack for a trip? What
would you pack for a
journey?)
#2
• Dirt and soil both
have a denotation
that mean the upper
layer of the earth or
the ground

• What is the
connotation of
each? (Hint: Do
plants grow best in
dirt or in soil? Why
would that be?)
#3

• Cabin and hut have


the same
denotation. They
are both places to
live.

• What is the
connotation of
each? (Hint: Which
would you rather
live in? Why?)
#4

• Explain why the words in


italics are not good
choices for these next two
sentences, even though
their denotation is correct.

• Shawn wrote letters to his


female parent while he was
overseas. (Why doesn’t
this sound good?)
#5

• He named his new


song “House Sweet
House.”

• Why does this sound


bad for a song’s
name? What kinds
of feelings are
missing?
Good writers choose their words for
the effects they have upon their
readers. Word choice is also a clue to
the writer’s attitude toward his/her
subject – tone.
They think about the denotation
of a word – its dictionary meaning
and the connotation – the implied
meanings and associations when
choosing words.
Words can have neutral, positive or
negative connotations:

• For example: slender/skinny


– Both words above mean “thin” or “trim”
• However, slender has a positive connotation
• Skinny has a negative connotation
Another Example
• A stubborn person can be described as
being:

– Strong willed (positive connotation)

– Pig-headed (negative connotation)


As Seen in Advertising:
• Both of the following sentences mean the
same thing, but advertisers prefer to use the
second sentence because it has fewer
negative connotations:

– All of the cars we have for sale are used.


– All of the cars we have for sale are previously
owned.
Home, house, residence and dwelling all have the
same denotation, but the connotation of each
word is very different.
• Denotation: Where a person lives at any
given time.
• Connotation:
Home: cozy, loving, comfortable
House: the actual building or structure
Residence: cold, no feeling
Dwelling: primitive or basic surroundings
• Which is most positive??
Here are some words that have denotative
and connotative meanings. On your paper,
create a chart like the one below and identify
the denotative and connotative meanings
of the following words.
Word Denotation Connotation
brutal

commitment

tight
The word brutal can have two meanings.
The fight scene in the Two Towers between the
Orcs and the travelers was brutal.
Denotation
extremely cruel

Connotation
violent to the point
of entertaining
Word Denotation Connotation
extremely violent to the
brutal cruel point of
entertaining

commitment

tight
The word commitment can have two meanings.
The couple has a commitment to each other.

Denotation
a pledge to do

Connotation
an emotional
connection to
another person
Word Denotation Connotation
extremely violent to the
brutal cruel point of
entertaining
a pledge to an emotional
commitment do connection to
another
person

tight
The word tight can have two meanings.
The dress she was wearing was really tight.
Denotation
fixed firmly in place

Connotation
good, fantastic, awesome
Word Denotation Connotation
extremely violent to the
brutal cruel point of
entertaining
a pledge to an emotional
commitment do connection
to another
person
fixed firmly good,
tight in place fantastic,
awesome
• Read each list of words below.
• Each word has a different connotation, but has
the same general denotation.
• Decide what the general denotation is for
each group.
• Write your answer on the line provided.
• Then, number the words in each group from
most positive connotation to most negative
connotation. 1 being the most positive, 5
being the most negative.
• ___ uprising
___ riot
___ demonstration
___ unlawful gathering
___ protest
___ disturbance

• ____________ (general denotation)

http://dictionary.reference.com/
• ___ prisoner
___ evacuee
___ internee
___ detainee
___ inmate

• ____________ (general denotation)

http://dictionary.reference.com/
Homework
• Using the next slide, write one sentence for
each of numbers 1-10. Make sure that your
sentence reflects the connotation of the word
(i.e. if it is a negative connotation your
sentence should have a negative feeling.)
• You should have at least 3 positive and 3
negative. The other 4 you write are your
choice.
Favorable Neutral Unfavorable

1. relaxed inactive lazy


2. prudent timid cowardly
3. modest shy mousy
4. time-tested old out-of-date
5. dignified reserved stiff-necked
6. persevering persistent stubborn
7. up-to-date new newfangled
8. thrifty conservative miserly
self-
9. proud conceited
confident
10. inquisitive curious nosy

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