Denotation and Connotation

Denotation and

Connotation

Activator: What Does This Mean?

• On your paper, please write your own concept of these words:–Home:–House:–Residence:–Dwelling:

Activator: What Does This Mean?

• The words home, house, residence, and dwelling all have the same basic definition, but the meaning of each word is very different.

Activator: What Does This Mean?

• What is the definition of home, house, residence, and dwelling?

• ……Where a person lives at any given time.

Activator: What Does This Mean?

• Even though these four words have the same DENOTATION (DICTIONARY DEFINITION) they all have different meanings, or CONNOTATIONS.

Activator: What Does This Mean?

CONNOTATIONS

–Home: cozy, loving, comfortable

–House: the actual building–Residence: cold, no feeling–Dwelling: primitive or basic surrounding

Denotation• Denotation is the strict dictionary

meaning of a word.–Denotation is the literal meaning of

the word.

Connotation• Connotation is the emotional,

cultural, and imaginative meaning or association surrounding a word.–A connotation of a word can be

either positive or negative.

Examples• If something doesn’t cost a lot, we can

call it either CHEAP or INEXPENSIVE.This is the DENOTATIONDENOTATION of the words inexpensive and cheap.

- Which word has a positive connotation?

- A negative connotation?

Examples

• When we put something into something else, we can call it either INVESTING or GAMBLING.This is the DENOTATIONDENOTATION of the words gambling and investing.

- Which word has a positive connotation?

- A negative connotation?

Examples)

• When something has never been there before, we can call that either NEW or UNPROVEN.This is the DENOTATIONDENOTATION of the words new and unproven.

- Which word has a positive connotation?

- A negative connotation?

Examples

• When someone is very careful with their money, we can call them either STINGY or THRIFTY.This is the DENOTATIONDENOTATION of the words thrifty and miserly.

- Which word has a positive connotation?

- A negative connotation?

Examples

• If someone is buying a car, and they can choose a USED or PRE-OWNED vehicle, which has the positive connotation?

Let’s Practice! • Remember, a word can have a

positive or negative connotation.

• Using the words on the next slide, match up the positive connotation word with its negative connotation word.

Let’s Practice

1. Proper A. Weird

2. Brave B. Outrageous

3. Fascinating C. Smirk

4. Hilarious D. Foolhardy

5. Smile E. Snobby

Which Has the Positive Connotation?

1. Which headline would you be likely to find in the Cub’s hometown paper?a. Cubs Destroy Cards 5-3b. Cards’ Effort Falls Short;

Cubs Win 5-3

Which Has the Negative Connotation? 2. Which newspaper does not

favor the development project?

a. Mall to Destroy 300

Homes

b. Mall to Bring 3,000 Jobs

What Does The Word Chicken Mean In

These Titles?

Class ActivityWord Denotation Positive Connotation Negative

Connotation

Chicken Bird; fowl food afraidDog Mutt, mongrelBold

Curious

Slender scrawnySmart

Pig

Mysterious unique; fascinating

Laugh cackle