Say What You Mean (& Mean What You Say)

 Denotation v Connotation

What's the difference between the denotation of a word, versus the connotation of a word? Well, the denotation refers to the dictionary definition of a word. It's pretty much the same, no matter where you look up the meaning-- a dictionary, an encyclopedia, Wiki. Doesn't change with the origin.

Connotation, on the other hand, refers to a word's secondary meanings, undertones, and implications. This can change from region to region, culture to culture, even town to town.

It's this latter meaning that makes English a very challenging language to learn for second-language speakers trying to gain a foothold in English perhaps for the first time. What do you mean that "cool" doesn't refer to the temperature, as in, "The temperature of the room was "cool" today;" versus, "He's acting really "cool" tonight." Or perhaps that "salty" isn't a way to describe a taste, as in, "That soup is too "salty;" versus, "She's mad-- she's acting all "salty." Or maybe that the term "woke" can refer to a social status, and not a condition of awake or asleep, as in, "The left tend to be very "woke;" versus, "She "woke" up at 8:15 this morning."

Let's look at a simple example: if you were to ask a woman how she'd like to be described from the following three words, what do you think her answer would be?

Slender.............Thin.............Scrawny

The answer would most likely be the word slender. While all of the words carry roughly the same denotation in that they all mean lean, as opposed to fat, the word slender carries more positive undertones, or connotations.

A slender woman is graceful, elegant, and perhaps even sexy. Most women would prefer the word "slender," as it carries the more positive connotation. The middle word, "thin," is a fairly neutral word, and can be used when in doubt as to the reception of the word. Finally, the word “scrawny” brings an unhealthy, overly thin, or bony person to mind, and most women generally do not want to be described in this manner.

Remember though that over time words can shift in their connotative implications, and people trying to use connotation should try be up-to-date on the current implications of a word before risking the use of the wrong word. When in doubt, go neutral, as with the word "thin" in the above example.

Here’s another example of connotation and how it can affect the strength of a sentiment:

• He is a crack addict.
• She is a welfare mother.
• He is homeless.

The words crack addict, welfare mother, and homeless carry strong connotations. It makes the above statements more powerful. Here are the same thoughts, only with weaker connotations, changing the tone significantly:

• He is a person who abuses substances.
• She is a parent needing gov’t assistance.
• He is itinerant.

So, say what you mean, but make sure you’re meaning what you say— know what a connotation is before you use it— wars have been started for (far) less!

© Ray Cattie