Denotation and

Connotation

Activator: What Does This Mean?

–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.

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.

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

Examples (AP #1)

• If something doesn’t cost a lot, we can call it either CHEAP or INEXPENSIVE.This is the DENOTATION of the words inexpensive and cheap.

- Which word has a positive connotation? - A negative connotation?

Examples (AP #1)

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

- Which word has a positive connotation? - A negative connotation?

Examples (AP #1)

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

- Which word has a positive connotation? - A negative connotation?

Examples (AP #1)

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

- Which word has a positive connotation? - A negative connotation?

Examples (AP #1)

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

Let’s Practice! (AP#2)

• 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 (AP#2)

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?

(AP#3)

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?

(AP#3)

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? (AP#4)

Class ActivityWord Denotation Positive Connotation Negative

Connotation

Chicken Bird; fowl food afraidDog Mutt, mongrelBold

Curious

Slender scrawnySmart

Pig

Mysterious unique; fascinating

Laugh cackle