CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION Warm up Would You rather

CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION Warm up: Would You rather be? Imagine your mom was introducing you to a person who knew nothing about you. She wants to describe you in the best way possible. From each pair of words below, choose the word you would rather your mom use to describe you. Then, explain why

1. Hard-working OR workaholic Why? 2. Conceited OR self-confident Why? 3. Firm OR stubborn Why? 4. Flexible OR indecisive Why?

IN THE TABLE BELOW, WRITE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION Connotation Denotation

CONNOTATION AND DENOTATION Connotation – is the ideas and feelings that come to mind when people read or hear a word. Words that have almost the same denotation can have a very different connotation depending on the context in which they are used. It also helps readers determine the mood and tone of a text. Denotation – is its literal meaning or dictionary definition.

Look at the examples below. Do the italicized words have the same denotation? Which one has the most positive connotation? Which one has the most negative connotation? Why? a. Running every day has made Thomas slender and lithe. b. Running everyday has made Thomas thin. c. Running everyday has made Thomas scrawny.

Below are several sets of words. All of them have a similar meaning, but have different connotations. Sort the words into the table below, deciding which word has a positive connotation, which word has a negative connotation and which word or phrase best expresses the denotation of each set. 1. gaze, look, steadily, stare 2. fragrance, odor, a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve 3. brainwash, persuade, influence one way or another 4. delayed, not on time, tardy 5. somewhat interested, noisy, curious 6. lazily, without haste, leisurely 7. ask of someone, demand, request 8. gathering, a large group, mob 9. slim, skinny, less than average build 10. discuss with others, debate, argue

Negative connotation Denotation Positive connotation