The difference between denotative and connotative meaning of a word?

Answer 1

The denotative definition of a word refers to its literal meaning while the connotative definition expands into any emotional or other associations that the word causes in the reader. An example would be the word "eagle." Its denotative definition would let you know that a bald eagle is large bird with the binomial name Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766).The connotative definition might bring up associations like strength, power or "soaring like an eagle."

Answer 2

Denotative meaning is the expressed meaning of a word, whereas the connotative meaning has more to do with the feeling evoked by a word.

To give a classic example, odor and fragrance both have the same denotative meanings of smell, however they have negative and positive connotations, respectively.

Answer 3

To denote is to specifically describe something as accurately as possible, or refer to something specific.

To connote is to add emotional or judgmental characteristics, which are often subjectively perceived.

Denotative language would be to say or write, "The house is very large."

Connotative language would add emotional coloring to the same statement: "The house is as large as a fine restaurant," or "The house is as large as our city dump." Both those statements are saying the house is large, but with different feelings associated with the statements.

Many adjectives and adverbs are inherently connotative: "The house is sinfully large," or "The house is resplendently large."

Answer 4

All words have a denotation, and most have connotations. Sometimes connotations are based on a general idea or stereotype of the word/term and sometimes it can be based upon the user/hearer of that term's personal experience. Denotation is the dictionary definition of a term, while connotation is the feeling you get when you hear/use that term. So, for example, the word "politician" has the denotation, or definition of:

• a leader engaged in civil administration
• a person active in party politics

(definition provided by wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)

However, the connotation of the word "politician" can be very different...when you think of a politician or hear that word, what do you think of? What do you feel? That's the connotation. Most of the time, the term "politician" has a negative connotation...it's a word that doesn't make you feel good. You think of deceit, negativity, selfishness, or, as wordnet.princeton.edu puts it, "a schemer who tries to gain advantage in an organization in sly or underhanded ways". That's a very negative connotation!

Hope that helped!

Answer 5

denotation

-the straightforward dictionary definition

connotations

-the ideas and feelings associated with the world

3 types of connotations:

1.Positive- a good thing

2.Negative- a bad thing

3.Neutral- not good or bad, indifferent used when you or the author don't want to show strong emotions either way.

Answer 6

* refers to the literal meaning of a word * refers to the emotional associations of a word * refers to the emotional attitude of the author towards his subject.

Answer 7

A denotative word is a word that is used to mean something else. For example, using the word "dog" to refer to someone who has an ugly face.