Chapter 3 Denotations and Connotations
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Transcript Chapter 3 Denotations and Connotations
Denotations and Connotations
THE JOYS OF ATTACHING MULTIPLE
MEANINGS TO ONE WORD.
Which word in each group has the most
“romantic” connotations?
Horse, steed, nag
King, ruler, tyrant, autocrat
Chicago, Pittsburgh, Samarkand,
Detroit
Which word in each group is the most
emotionally connotative?
Female parents, mother, dam
Offspring, children, progeny
Brother, sibling
VOLUNTEERS!
I will need three groups of four.
Arrange the words in each of the following groups
from most positive to most negative in connotation
Of the following, which should you be less
offended at being accused of?
Having acted foolishly
Having acted like a fool
Like archetypes, denotations and connotations
are controlled by context
What denotation has the word fast in the following
contexts:
Fast runner
Fast color
Fast living
Fast day
What are the varying connotations of these four
denotations of fast?
Same denotation, but different connotations?
First of all, do you think this is possible?
Examples:
The young princess had blue eyes, golden hair, and a
breast as white as snow.
Confronted with the evidence, the false princess turned as
white as a sheet.
Connotations? Discuss contexts.
To recap
Words matter.
Always consider denotations and connotations of
words.
Pay attention to context.
Be on the look out for irony.
Don’t know all of the denotations of a word? Use a
dictionary.