Aim- How does a writer create effects through the connotations of words and images?
Denotation- The literal or dictionary definition of a word.
Connotation- The emotions and ideas that correlate with a word.
Two words can have the same denotation, but a different connotation.
DENOTATIONS & CONNOTATIONS | English Lesson [3:32]
Curious vs. Nosy
These words both mean an eagerness to know about something. Despite this, curious has a positive connotation and nosy has a negative connotation.
Aroma vs. Stench
Both of these words refer to a smell. Again, however, one has a positive connotation and one has a negative connotation. Aroma is positive and stench is negative.
Mob vs. Crowd
Both of these words imply a large, concentrated group of people. It may be easy to guess now, but crowd has a more positive connotation and mob has a more negative connotation.
Selective vs. Picky
These words are both used to denote a particularity when choosing something. A person should be selective (or perhaps picky) when choosing between selective, which has a more positive connotation, and picky, which has a more negative connotation.
When writing, knowledge of the denotations and connotations of words are important. A word may have the denotation you want, but the connotation might not fit the tone of your writing.
There is such a thing as a neutral connotation, which does not invoke positive or negative emotions.
CONNOTATION and DENOTATION in Speak
“I dive into the stream of fourth-period lunch students and swim down the hall to the cafeteria.”
The images of diving into and swimming through the other students has a negative connotation. This is because it sounds like the author is in a hurry, but is having trouble moving through the hallway.
What would the sentence sound like if it were neutral?
I entered the hallway and started walking around the other students.
“I ditch my tray and bolt for the door.”
Based on the verbs, the speaker seems as though they are distressed and in a hurry.
What would the sentence sound like if it were neutral?
I put down my tray and head for the door.
In Marigolds the narrator describes a key incident that had an impact on her “coming of age.”
Directions: As you read, highlight/underline the text for examples of diction, syntax, and imagery that create the narrator’s voice. Be sure to annotate the connotative effect of word choices, and explain the inferences they lead you to make regarding the tone, character, or significance of the event.
“When I think of the home town of my youth, all that I seem to remember is dust—the brown, crumbly dust of late summer—arid, sterile dust that gets into the eyes and makes them water, gets into the throat and between the toes of bare brown feet. (syntax) I don’t know why I should remember only the dust. Surely there must have been lush green lawn (imagery with positive connotation) and paved streets under leafy shade trees (positive connotation) somewhere in town; but memory is an abstract painting—it does not present things as they are, but rather as they feel. And so, when I think of that time and that place, I remember only the dry September of the dirt roads and grassless yards of the shantytown where I lived. And one other thing I remember, another incongruency (diction) of memory—a brilliant splash of sunny yellow (imagery with positive connotation) against the dust—Miss Lottie’s marigolds.”
What did I learn today?
I learned about the difference between connotation and denotation and the way that words should be selected based on these two factors.
Why did I learn it?
I learned this so that I can choose words that create the most suitable meaning and emotion for my writing.
How will I use this information?
I will use this information to make effective word choices in my writing.
No comments:
Post a Comment