Denotation Denotation vs. vs.

ConnotationConnotation

A quick look at the A quick look at the literal and figurative literal and figurative meaning of words.meaning of words.

DenotationDenotation is the literal is the literal meaning of a word, the meaning of a word, the dictionary meaning, a dictionary meaning, a direct specific meaning direct specific meaning as distinct from an as distinct from an implied or associated implied or associated idea. idea.

Example of denotation:Example of denotation:

The word The word restrest means means the refreshing quiet or the refreshing quiet or repose of sleep: repose of sleep: a good night's rest.a good night's rest.

ConnotationConnotation is the is the implied meaning of a implied meaning of a word, or the suggesting word, or the suggesting of a meaning by a word of a meaning by a word apart from the thing it apart from the thing it explicitly names.explicitly names.

Example of connotation:Example of connotation:

“Good night, sweet “Good night, sweet prince, and flights of prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy angels sing thee to thy restrest (burial).” (burial).”

22ndnd Example of Example of denotation:denotation:

The word The word chill chill means means cold. The denotation cold. The denotation of the word of the word chill chill is is cold. cold.

22ndnd Example of Example of connotation:connotation:

The expression “let’s The expression “let’s chillchill” ” is an example of the is an example of the connotation of the word connotation of the word chill, chill, which means which means something other than cold, something other than cold, as in spending time.as in spending time.

More on denotation and More on denotation and connotation…connotation…

The distinction between The distinction between connotation and connotation and denotation is commonly denotation is commonly associated with the associated with the philosopher John philosopher John Stuart Mill, though it is Stuart Mill, though it is much older. much older.

It is intended to reflect It is intended to reflect the different ways in the different ways in which a common name which a common name may be significant. may be significant.

The connotation of the The connotation of the name is the attribute or name is the attribute or attributes implied by attributes implied by the name. the name.

The denotation of the The denotation of the name is any object to name is any object to which the name which the name applies.applies.

For example, the word For example, the word "city" connotes the "city" connotes the attributes of largeness, attributes of largeness, populousness. populousness.

It denotes individual It denotes individual objects such as objects such as London, New York, London, New York, Paris.Paris.

It should not to be confused It should not to be confused (though it often is) with the (though it often is) with the distinction between sense distinction between sense and reference, though it and reference, though it has some affinity with his has some affinity with his distinction between concept distinction between concept and object. and object.

Contemporary Contemporary philosophers employ philosophers employ the terms intension and the terms intension and extension for extension for connotation and connotation and denotation respectively.denotation respectively.

Mill's definition of the Mill's definition of the term "connotation" is term "connotation" is altogether different altogether different from that used by from that used by scholastic logicians. scholastic logicians.

In scholastic logic, a In scholastic logic, a "connotative" term was "connotative" term was originally what would originally what would now be called an now be called an adjective, "signifying an adjective, "signifying an attribute as qualifying a attribute as qualifying a subject."subject."

For example, "brave", For example, "brave", as used to say or imply as used to say or imply of some particular of some particular person that they are person that they are brave. brave.

By contrast, the abstract By contrast, the abstract noun "bravery" was noun "bravery" was thought to signify thought to signify something independent something independent of the subject, an of the subject, an "independent entity", "independent entity", thus is non-connotative. thus is non-connotative.

The distinction is The distinction is connected with the connected with the metaphysical one metaphysical one between substance between substance and attribute.and attribute.

LinguisticsLinguistics

There is a related distinction in There is a related distinction in linguistics between the linguistics between the objective meaning or objective meaning or denotation of a word such as denotation of a word such as "vulgar," and the positive or "vulgar," and the positive or negative association or negative association or connotation we attach to such connotation we attach to such a word. a word.

"Vulgar" derives from "Vulgar" derives from the Latin word for the Latin word for "common" and literally "common" and literally means ubiquitous, means ubiquitous, found everywhere, and found everywhere, and was its original was its original meaning. meaning.

The word has now The word has now acquired the negative acquired the negative connotation of "gross" connotation of "gross" or "crudely obscene" or "crudely obscene" (also of showy (also of showy ostentatiousness). ostentatiousness).

The process of The process of acquiring a negative acquiring a negative connotation is known connotation is known as pejoration.as pejoration.

Connotations often give Connotations often give insight into the insight into the associations of the real associations of the real usage of a word.usage of a word.

When we seek to When we seek to understand the understand the connotative meaning of connotative meaning of words we dig deeper into words we dig deeper into the original meaning the original meaning (denotative) of words and (denotative) of words and phrases.phrases.

Let us look at a Let us look at a student example…student example…

““These jeans are These jeans are tight.”tight.”

Meaning that the jeans Meaning that the jeans fit snuggly, is an fit snuggly, is an example of the example of the denotative meaning of denotative meaning of the word the word tight.tight.

““That skateboard is That skateboard is tight.”tight.”

Same word, Same word, tighttight, , different meaning. Here different meaning. Here the connotative meaning the connotative meaning of the word of the word tighttight is is “cool.”“cool.”

Let us look at another Let us look at another student example…student example…

““The sky is The sky is blue.”blue.”

Here the word Here the word blueblue is is used to reflect the used to reflect the denotative meaning of denotative meaning of the word or its color.the word or its color.

““My cousin is My cousin is blue blue and and on anti-depressantson anti-depressants.”.”

Same word, Same word, blueblue, , different meaning. Here different meaning. Here the connotative meaning the connotative meaning of the word of the word blue blue is is “depressed.”“depressed.”

Now let us look at Now let us look at some sample questions some sample questions about denotation vs. about denotation vs. connotation…connotation…

Sample 1:Sample 1:

Just take a look at some Just take a look at some of the famous tattoo of the famous tattoo canvasescanvases..

Sample 1:Sample 1:

Which of the following Which of the following best expresses the best expresses the denotation of the denotation of the underlined word underlined word canvasescanvases?? >>>>

Sample 1:Sample 1:

A. walking works of artA. walking works of artB. victims of a fashion crazeB. victims of a fashion crazeC. objects to be used for C. objects to be used for advertisingadvertisingD. cloth surfaces for paintingD. cloth surfaces for painting

Sample 1:Sample 1:

A. walking works of artA. walking works of artB. victims of a fashion crazeB. victims of a fashion crazeC. objects to be used for C. objects to be used for advertisingadvertisingD. cloth surfaces for paintingD. cloth surfaces for painting

Let us look at another Let us look at another sample…sample…

Sample 2:Sample 2:

… and Whoopi Goldberg … and Whoopi Goldberg sportssports Woodstock from Woodstock from Peanuts on her skin.Peanuts on her skin.

Sample 2:Sample 2:

The author probably uses The author probably uses the word the word sportssports instead of instead of the word the word wears wears because because sportssports has… has… >>>>

Sample 2:Sample 2:

A. a more positive A. a more positive connotationconnotationB. a neutral connotationB. a neutral connotationC. a different denotationC. a different denotationD. a more negative D. a more negative connotationconnotation

Sample 2:Sample 2:

A. A. a more positive a more positive connotationconnotationB. a neutral connotationB. a neutral connotationC. a different denotationC. a different denotationD. a more negative D. a more negative connotationconnotation

Thanks to Thanks to LAUSD’s Board of LAUSD’s Board of Education and the 2005 Education and the 2005 Periodic Assessment for Periodic Assessment for Expository EssaysExpository Essays