Words are the showrunners in literature. From conveying the meaning to expressing emotions or feelings, words do it all. But have you ever found yourself in a situation when a word defies its literal definition and conveys an entirely different meaning or feeling altogether? This interrupts the flow, rupturing the connection we were having with the text.
But it’s not that big a problem. We can get rid of this tricky word puzzle by pinning our hopes on the concept of Denotation and Connotation. Now that we know the solution we must begin with the article!
What is Denotation?
Denotation is the literal meaning or standard definition of a word or feeling that one finds in the dictionary. It is the most common type of explanation that we encounter in the literature. To put it effectively and simply we can say: Denotation is the true and clear definition of a word.
A denotation is a powerful tool that is extensively used in the literary world. Poets, essayists, short story writers, and novelists use the concept of denotation in their work to show precision.
The concept of denotation is not confined to words only. Symbols too have important denotation or literal meanings. They are often used as mathematical symbols but also find usage for other purposes.
Now how do we grasp the concept of denotation without having a look at some relevant examples that show its application? So here we go with some examples of denotation.
Examples of Denotation
Denotation Sentence Examples
- The boy was pushy. (He was literally pushing people.)
- She was cold. (She was cold in temperature.)
- It was too hard. (The object was too firm.)
- The dog is a mutt. (The dog is a mix of several breeds.)
Denotation Symbol Examples
- @ is at
- $ is dollars
- + is plus
- – is minus
- = is equals
- < is less than
Denotation in the Zodiac Signs
- Aries (ram) = March 21 – April 19
- Taurus (bull) = April 20 – May 20
- Gemini (twins) = May 21 – June 20
- Cancer (crab) = June 21 – July 22
- Leo (lion) = July 23 – August 22
- Virgo (virgin) = August 23 – September 22
- Libra (scale) = September 23 – October 22
- Scorpio (scorpion) = October 23 – November 21
- Sagittarius (archer) = November 22 – December 21
- Capricorn (sea-goat) = December 22 – January 19
- Aquarius (water bearer) = January 20 – February 18
- Pisces (fish) = February 19 – March 20
Now that Denotation is stored in our memory. Let’s march towards Connotation.
What is Connotation?
A connotation refers to the sense, idea, quality, or feeling that a word evokes that goes beyond its real meaning. A series of words may have the same basic meanings but their connotations can be completely different.
Connotations set the tone of writing by clarifying a person’s intentions.
There are three types of Connotation in Writing.
- Positive Connotation
- Negative Connotation
- Neutral Connotation
It is important to note that not all connotations are positive or negative. It entirely depends on how the word is used. It can include different things as well. Therefore making it one of the most important things to consider when it comes to the choice of words, in literature as well as in everyday conversation.
Since Connotation is an additional meaning of a word or phrase, there are endless examples to quote. As mentioned earlier, many words may have the same meaning, but they may convey different feelings or ideas.
Most of the examples stated below can be categorized as positive, negative, or neutral connotations. Sometimes a word or phrase may have both positive and negative connotations, depending on how they are used.
Here we go with some relevant examples to gain more clarity about Connotation.
Examples of Connotation
- Stench, smell, aroma, scent, odor
- Strong, tough, sturdy, hard
- Proud, confident, arrogant, egotistical
- Childish, childlike, young, youthful
- Rich, loaded, privileged, wealthy, affluent
- Broke, poor, impoverished
- Frugal, economical, stingy, cheap
- Tempting, attractive, interesting
Winding Up
In this article, we’ve talked about Denotation and Connotation with suitable examples. For much such knowledgeable content keep paying a visit to our website. Adios!