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Chapter 3 (DENOTATION CONNOTATION)

The document discusses denotation and connotation of words. It defines denotation as the core literal meaning of a word found in a dictionary, while connotation refers to additional meanings and attitudes associated with a word. Connotations can be positive, negative, or neutral. Synonyms don't always share the same connotations. Taboo words that reference prohibited acts have negative connotations and are best avoided or replaced with euphemisms.

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CA Pham Khai
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711 views28 pages

Chapter 3 (DENOTATION CONNOTATION)

The document discusses denotation and connotation of words. It defines denotation as the core literal meaning of a word found in a dictionary, while connotation refers to additional meanings and attitudes associated with a word. Connotations can be positive, negative, or neutral. Synonyms don't always share the same connotations. Taboo words that reference prohibited acts have negative connotations and are best avoided or replaced with euphemisms.

Uploaded by

CA Pham Khai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 3:

Denotation &
Connotation

1
Denotation (Ý nghĩa biểu thị)

• The denotation of a word is the


core, central, referential, literal
meaning of the word found in
a dictionary.
• Can you get me a book.
I bought a book this
afternoon.
2
Denotation
• In English, a content word may have its
denotation described in terms of a set
of semantic features that serve to
identify the particular concept
associated with the word.
A woman: an adult female person as
distinguished from a man and a girl.
A cat: domesticated animal belonging to
the feline family
A pig: a domesticated animal belonging
to the porcine family. 3
Connotation (Ý nghĩa biểu thái, nghĩa rộng)

• The connotation of a word is the


additional meaning that the word
has beyond its denotative meaning.
• The connotation shows people’s
emotions and/or attitudes towards
what the word refers to.
• This kind of meaning is rather
unstable: they vary considerably
according to culture, historical
period, and the experience of the
individual (=peripheral).
4
Connotation
• There are two kinds of
connotation:
a.positive/ favorable
connotation
b.negative/ unfavorable
connotation
e.g. child → affectionate
→ innocent
→ noisy
5
→ irritating
Connotation
police → protection
→ safety
→ helpfulness
→ lawfulness
→ hindrance
→ bribery
→ corruption

6
positive negative
• faithful • selfish
woman • generous • lazy
• caring • untidy
• loving • talkative
• hard-working • jealous

• prosperity • dirty
pig • wealthy • lazy
• successful • greedy
7
Connotation
+ ø -
mother, mom woman witch
slender thin skinny
plump overweight fat
thrifty, frugal tight stingy
relaxed inactive lazy
prudent timid cowardly
inquisitive curious nosy
up-to-date new newfangled
self-confident proud conceited
http://www.slideshare.net/JohanaMariePapas/denotation-
andconnotation?next_slideshow=1
8
Connotation
• The word fox almost always has a
negative connotation in English
when it is associated with any
person who is cunning or
deceitful.
• The word snake?
• The word clever?
In British culture, the word ‘clever’ often
has negative connotation. It suggests
someone who uses trickery, a person who 9
Connotation
• Synonyms, words that have the
same basic meaning, do not always
have the same meaning.
A person wants to be slender but
not skinny, aggressive but not
pushy.
 be careful choosing words because
many so-called synonyms are not
really synonyms at all.
10
Connotation
• To understand the connotations of a
certain word in a certain language
properly, we have to take into
consideration such as:
– age, sex
– level of education
– social economic status, cultural factors
– speaker – hearer relationship,
communicative situation
– speech community, ethnic group
11
Cheap

1. Denotation: low in cost


2. Connotation: poorly made; made
with inferior ingredients or products

12
Why doesn’t it sound good?

1. Shawn wept at the death of his


female parent.

2. “House Sweet House” (What kinds


of feelings are missing?)

13
More examples
• A dog connotes shamelessness and
an ugly face.
• A dove implies peace and gentility.
• Home suggests family, comfort or
security.
• Pushy refers to someone loud-
mouthed and irritating.
• Mom and Dad when used in place of
mother and father connote loving
parent.
14
Main features
DENOTATION CONNOTATION

emotions and/or
what a lexical attitudes towards
item means what a lexical
item refers to

core, central peripheral

referential social, affective


15
- still single after the
usual age for
marrying
- decided by himself
bachelo unmarrie to stay single
r d man
- enjoying freedom,

friendship, life, ect.


core,
- ready for his
central,
referential impending


marriage
peripheral,
social, 16
Kinds of sense
Primary sense Secondary sense
- meaning listed first - other meanings of
in the dictionary the same word
- citation meaning - in the context
- in isolation - additional meaning

e.g. jungle  (land covered e.g. jungle (any place


with dense growth of with a dense, tangled
trees, tall vegetation, growth of trees and
and vines, typically in vegetation)
tropical regions, and I need to take care of the
inhabited by predatory jungle in my backyard.
animals)
17
• To have
- own/possess something
- have dinner
- have a class
- have someone do something
- have a good time
- have to try

18
Kinds of sense
Literal meaning Figurative meaning
basic meaning of a vivid mental images
word
e.g. wing
- two wings of an - spread his wings =
airplane extend his activities
- the east/west wing of - wait in the wings = is
the house ready to replace
- the left wing of the
car
- the radical wing of
labor party 19
Explain the meaning of the following
sentences.
1. When he gets going, Jack is a
streak of lighting.
Jack is very fast.
2. The man is a demon for work.
The man is an energetic
person who works very hard.
3. The wind howled angrily
around the house all night.
The wind blew strongly.
20
Explain the meaning of the following
sentences.

4. My dormitory room is like a


cave.
My dormitory room is small
and uncomfortable.
5. You can depend on Gina; she is
a rock when trouble comes.
She is strong-minded.

21
Taboo
• A taboo word (a “dirty”
word/expression) refers to a taboo
act or behavior in a society, a culture
or a speech community.
• The taboo word has a negative
connotation.
• When an act is taboo, reference to
this act may also become an
unpleasant distasteful notion.
22
Taboo
• We should avoid using them in our
communication.
• We shouldn’t pronounce them in
public and write them in essay.
• We have to use substitutes, other
words in the same language.

23
Taboo
• Taboos can include restrictions on :
– sexual activities
– showing body parts
– the use of offensive language
– gestures
– any racial differences talk
– slavery

24
Euphemism
- the use of pleasant , mild or
indirect words or phrases in
place of more accurate or direct
ones
- euphemisms used for talking
about something unpleasant or
improper in a nicer way.

25
Euphemism & Taboo
• passed away /did not make it /be laid to
rest= die.
• little boys room /ladies’ room = toilet
• senior citizen = old person
• mentally challenged/physical challenge
= disabled
• full figure = fat
• between jobs = unemployed, jobless
• bun in the oven = pregnant
• that child is a slow learner = stupid 26
Euphemism & Taboo
• He was his majesty’s guest for 2
years. (He was in jail for 2 years.)
• I’m pro-life = I oppose abortion.
• I’m pro-choice = I support abortion.
• hard of hearing = deaf
• criminal assault = rape
• senior citizens = the aged
• odour = stink
• love child = bastard
27
The End

28

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