The Meanings of Words Connotation and Denotation SOL

The Meanings of Words: Connotation and Denotation SOL 8. 4 e and 6. 4 e : students will discriminate between connotative and denotative meanings and interpret the connotation

Denotation Definition: The strict dictionary meaning of a word

Connotation Definition: The emotional and imaginative meaning (either positive or negative) associated with a word These are also called Nuances of meaning— slight differences

What do connotation and denotation look like on the SOL? ? Which word in paragraph # has a negative connotation? b Which words in sentence # contribute to the connotation of the word___? b The speaker uses the common definition of the word___ in order to— b Which word would NOT be used to describe_____? b Which meaning of the word ___ is most appropriate in sentence #? b All of the following are other meanings of the word____ EXCEPT--b

LET’S PRACTICE! The first purpose of words: To label things I live in a house.

Practice Continued… The second purpose of words: to express a point of view You may live in a house, but we live in a home.

Point of View b. Positive We bought inexpensive souvenirs at the amusement park. b. Negative We bought cheap souvenirs at the amusement park.

Point of View: Positive b Everyone had a (smile, smirk) on his/her face on the ride home. b Everyone had a smile on his/her face on the way home.

Point of View: Negative I ate a (soggy, moist) sandwich. I ate a soggy sandwich

Positive Connotation? You Decide! average mediocre childish childlike spit saliva antique old-fashioned

Context Clues and Connotation/Denotation Words or phrases that help the reader understand a difficult word

Using Context Clues to help determine connotation/denotation b The parrot was able to (mimic, mock) human voices. b The parrot was able to mimic human voices.

Context Clues: What is the correct positive connotation? 1. The (odor, fragrance) of apple blossoms filled the entire valley. 2. A (swarm, bunch) of bees filled the air near the hive. 3. Tammy (delayed, hesitated) for a moment, then went on speaking.

Organize the following words from each list into a group of words with positive connotations and a list with negative connotations. Each word must be used in one of the two lists. b Tight Positive Connotations: b Miserly b Frugal b Economical b Careful b Thrifty b Penny-pinching b Budget-minded Negative Connotations

� �Word pairs: Identify the po p and negative connoations in each pair of words b Self-confident/conceited b Assertive/pushy b Firm/stubborn b Casual/sloppy b Mature/old

Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. b You look so lovely in that blue dress; it shows off your _____ figure. A) Skinny B) Slender C) Thin D) Thick

Sol practice continued. . b Everyone in the office respects Casey because of her kind, but ____ attitude. b A) bossy b B) domineering b C) assertive b D) pushy

Continued #3 b “I’m afraid, ” said Mrs. Richardson, “that you might find advanced calculus a little too ______ for you in 9 th grade. ” A) Difficult B) Confusing C) Challenging D) Easy

Continued #4 b We were all so sorry to hear that you had gotten____ from your part-time job at Farm Fresh. b A) let go b B) fired b C) canned b D) sacked

Continued #5 b “That’s an interesting answer, Pablo, ” said Professor Lincoln, “but you’re____” b A) clueless b B) inaccurate b C) out in left field b D) out to lunch