Transcript Connotation and Denotation

Look up the following
words in a dictionary:
•House
•Home
Dictionary Definition:
•House
•Home
The place where
one lives;
A dwelling place
DENOTATION-
the
dictionary definition of a word
BUT… sometimes words have
additional feelings, emotions, or
ideas associated with them
love
comfort
home
family
safety
connotation:
• The feelings, ideas, or emotions
associated with a word beyond its
dictionary definition
HOUSE – a structure or building
HOME – brings up feelings, memories,
emotions of family
connotation:
Words with the same DENOTATION can have
very different CONNOTATIONS:
thin, slender, skinny
• Positive connotation: slender
• Negative connotation: skinny
• Neutral (in between) connotation: thin
The words trip and
vacation have the same
DENOTATION (dictionary
definition). Which word
has a more positive
CONNOTATION?
fun
friends
vacation
Family
relaxation
Number your opposite DTAP page from
1-5. Which word has a more POSITIVE
CONNOTATION?
1. child
2. immature
3. shot
4. clever
5. car
kid
youthful
injection
sly
automobile
SO WHAT?
Why is it important to recognize the CONNOTATION of
words?
• As a READER – it helps you to understand what is
going on and to understand “shades of meaning”
• As a READER – it helps you to understand the
author’s “thinking”
• As a WRITER – it helps you to understand the
importance of word choice to get your point across.
• As a WRITER – it helps you understand that not all
synonyms necessarily fit what you want to say- be
careful of word choice
What is the writer thinking?
• The girl ran courageously into
the flaming barn to save her
colt.
• The girl ran recklessly into the
flaming barn to save her colt.
What is the writer thinking?
•Joe walked at a sluggish
pace.
•Joe walked at a leisurely
pace.
DENOTATION – the
dictionary definition of a word
CONNOTATION - the
feelings, ideas, or emotions
associated with a word
beyond its dictionary
definition