Denotation and Connotation

Who would you rather go out with?

Helga? or Nikki?

What about the boys?Herman or Brad

Denotation - the meaning of a word or image, the object to which the word refers e.g.

–Pen–Laptop–Orange–Apple–Dog–Child

Connotation - what is implied by a word or image. The

connotation of a word is the associations we have for a word – all the ideas that the word suggests to us e.g.– Apple - can suggest adjectives:

crisp, juicy, red, luscious. It could also suggest worm, snow white. It may allude (allusions are references to other literary or biblical works) to the Adam and Eve story.

ExampleDenotation= a dove / bird

Connotation = peace

Denotation = hearts

Connotation = Love/romance

Spinster

Positive or negative?

Linking word choice and connotations

• Words with similar meanings can have very different connotations. All of the following words mean thin.

• Think about the connotations for each word.

Underweight

MEDICAL, CLINICAL, IN NEED OF TREATMENT.

Skinny

IN AN UNATTRACTIVE WAY, ANGULAR, BONY

Slim

IN AN ATTRACTIVE WAY, NEAT, ELEGANT APPEARANCE

What is the connotation of obese?

Hugely overweight, a medical problem, disgusting

What about ‘chubby’?

or fat?

Sometimes we make assumptions about a text before we have even read a word! The following tasks will help you explore your assumptions about this novel.

Look carefully at this book cover

What is the denotative meaning of the cover image?

What is the connotative meaning?

Hint: think about the colours, figures and perspective of the image.

Now think about the title:

•What are its denotative and connotative meanings?

•Look at the font used for the title and authors’ names. Does this suggest anything about the book?

•What do you think the story is about?

•What genre do you think the story is from?

• Using your ideas about the title and cover image, try to write the blurb for the back cover of the book.

• Tip: think about genre, setting, characters (make up names if needed) and possible plot

Now compare your version with the one

from the novel. How similar are they? Blurb

Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows lives with his family in London. He has little in common with them except for a passion for digging which he shares with his father. When his father suddenly disappears down an unknown tunnel, Will decides to investigate with his friend Chester. Soon they find themselves deep underground, where they unearth a dark and terrifying secret - a secret which may cost them their lives.

• How does your blurb compare with this one?

• What are the similarities and differences?

• Which do you prefer? Why?

Linking Context and Connotations

• The word ‘bar’ could suggest –– A prison– A piece of iron– A pub– A piece of gold– A gymnasium

BUT the Context (the sentence in which the word appears) will apply constraints on its connotation e.g.

– I went into the bar and bought a drink

– The word ‘bar’ used in this sentence can only suggest pub.

– The words ‘bought a drink’ restricts the connotation to a pub.

EXAMPLE 1

‘Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winter’s night would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain batters the glass roof of the studio, competing in volume with the meringue blaring from the sound system. In the background, the castle, lit up, stares down grandly against the foreboding skies.’

QUESTION – Show how the word choice in these lines helps to point up the contrast described here.

Answer

‘Sultry sensuality’ suggests something hot and sexy which is normally associated with warm sunny places in contrast with ‘foreboding skies’ which suggests something dark and threatening and gloomy or ‘wet winter’s night’ which suggests cold.

EXAMPLE 1

• ‘Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winter’s night would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain batters the glass roof of the studio, competing in volume with the meringue blaring from the sound system. In the background, the castle, lit up, stares down grandly against the foreboding skies.’

• Since you are looking at contrast you will have two look at 2 examples of word choice – one for each side of the contrast. All of the words highlighted could be used in your answer.

ANSWER 2

• ‘The rain batters’ suggests an assault on the roof, as if the rain is trying to get in and drown out the dancing in contrast with the ‘meringue blaring’ which suggests something enjoyable, loud, warm and confident.

EXAMPLE 2

• ‘Unlikely as it may first seem, this is occurring across the country. Against similar winter backdrops people are queuing up to learn to dance. National inhibition is being shed as salsa, meringue and cumbia beats force hips to sway rhythmically and partners to twist complicatedly. French ceroc classes are filling up, street dancing to hip-hop is being used as an exercise class. Even ballroom dancing is enjoying something of a renaissance.

QUESTION: How does the word choice in this paragraph emphasise how popular dancing has become?

ANSWER• ‘Queuing up’- suggests a never-ending line of

people anxious not to miss the chance to dance.

• ‘Inhibition is being shed’ – ‘shed’ suggests inhibitions are being thrown away in complete abandonment of caution.

• ‘Filling up’ – becoming so popular that they might overflow.

• ‘Enjoying a renaissance’ – suggests the number of people wanting to do ballroom dancing amounts almost to a coming back from the dead of an old-fashioned and out-of-date form of dancing.

Connotations can be either positive or negative, sometimes both depending on the

context…

Neutral Positive Negative

• Car ___________ ___________

• Speak ___________ ___________

• Walk ___________ ___________

Identify a positive and negative connotation for the above.