Topic:Expressing Connotation of words
Target Learners: Second year HS
This lesson is applicable to all year levels.
Introduction:
It has been mentioned that one cause of failure to understand or to be understood is the difference in the meaning that you or others give to a word or to an expression. It is important, therefore, that you learn about denotations and connotation as well.
This lesson will help you improve your skill in expressing connotations.
Objective: Express connotation of words or phrase.
Review: You have learned that denotation is the literal or the dictionary meaning of a
word.
Example: fire place –it denotes a place built for holding fire.
It may have a connotation of comfort because of
the warmth it gives or it may connote something
depending upon the person’s experience who
will give the meaning.
Discussion:
Connotations are emotional subjective meanings and associations that people may connect with the word. Some words tend to have positive connotations while others tend to have negative meanings. Variations in meanings depend on the emotion and experience of the reader or the listener.
Connotation refers to the associated, implied, indirect, or secondary meaning of a word.
Example: HOME- connotes love,family,happiness
Connotative meanings are usually derived from the explicit meaning of the given word or phrase. For example, a friend may be defined denotatively as a companion or associate, but if you will give connotative meaning, you can state it as “a shoulder to lean on”
For a connotation to be clear to the one spoken to, a word or group words should be used as clues, this words is known as context or context clue. Forexample, the word rain may connoteblessings or tears.
Example: After breaking up with her boyfriend, she locked herself in her room. There rain fell the whole night. (Rain in this sentence means tears because of the context clue-After breaking up with her boyfriend; she locked herself in the room.)
Summary:
If the denotation of a word is the exact, literal meaning of that word, its connotation is the added meaning the word suggests or implies. Just like in denotations, a word may have more then one connotations. For example, the denotation of slender and skinny is thin, butslender connotes approval while skinny disapproval.White denotes color which contains all the visible of the spectrum; but it may connote such qualities as purity and holiness.
Assessment
Select the idea often associated with the given word or phrase.
- Snake a. enemy b. medicine
- Falling leaves a. death of people b. passing of days
- Rising sun a. beauty b. hope
- Mother a. father’s companion b. light of home
- Strong wind a. opposition b. problem
- Typhoon a. problem b. rain
- Torch a. light b. victory
- Christmas a. giving present b. going to church
- Apple a. satisfaction b. temptation
10. Green a. freshness b.cool
