From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
«Connote» redirects here. For Connote number, see Waybill.
A connotation is a commonly understood cultural or emotional association that any given word or phrase carries, in addition to its explicit or literal meaning, which is its denotation.
A connotation is frequently described as either positive or negative, with regard to its pleasing or displeasing emotional connection.[1] For example, a stubborn person may be described as being either strong-willed or pig-headed; although these have the same literal meaning (stubborn), strong-willed connotes admiration for the level of someone’s will (a positive connotation), while pig-headed connotes frustration in dealing with someone (a negative connotation).
Usage[edit]
«Connotation» branches into a mixture of different meanings. These could include the contrast of a word or phrase with its primary, literal meaning (known as a denotation), with what that word or phrase specifically denotes. The connotation essentially relates to how anything may be associated with a word or phrase; for example, an implied value, judgement or feelings.[2]
Logic[edit]
In logic and semantics, connotation is roughly synonymous with intension. Connotation is often contrasted with denotation, which is more or less synonymous with extension. Alternatively, the connotation of the word may be thought of as the set of all its possible referents (as opposed to merely the actual ones). A word’s denotation is the collection of things it refers to; its connotation is what it implies about the things it is used to refer to ( a second level of meanings is termed connotative ). The connotation of dog is (something like) four-legged canine carnivore. So saying, «You are a dog» would connote that you were ugly or aggressive rather than literally denoting you as a canine.[3]
[edit]
It is often useful to avoid words with strong connotations (especially pejorative or disparaging ones) when striving to achieve a neutral point of view. A desire for more positive connotations, or fewer negative ones, is one of the main reasons for using euphemisms.[4]
Semiotic closure, as defined by Terry Eagleton, concerns «a sealed world of ideological stability, which repels the disruptive, decentered forces of language in the name of an imaginary unity. Signs are ranked by a certain covert violence into rigidly hierarchical order. . . . The process of forging ‘representations’ always involves this arbitrary closing of the signifying chain, constricting the free play of the signifier to a spuriously determinate meaning which can then be received by the subject as natural and inevitable».[5][relevant?]
Synonyms[edit]
- Implied. The denotation of a heart implies love.
- Impressionistic
- Evocative
- Indirect
- Inferred
- etc.
Examples[edit]
|
The denotation is a representation of a cartoon heart. The connotation is a symbol of love and affection. |
|
The denotation of this example is a red rose with a green stem. The connotation is that it is a symbol of passion and love – this is what the rose represents. |
|
The denotation is a brown cross. The connotation is a symbol of religion, according to the media connotation. However, to be more specific this is a symbol of Christianity. |
See also[edit]
Look up connotation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- Context as Other Minds
- Double entendre
- Extension
- Extensional definition
- Intension
- Intensional definition
- Loaded language
- Metacommunicative competence
- Pun
- Semantic differential
- Semantic property
- Subtext
References[edit]
- ^ Peter A. White (27 March 2017). «Feelings and JEA Sequences». Psychological Metaphysics. p. 315. ISBN 978-1315473550.
- ^ «Connotation and Denotation» (PDF). California State University, Northridge. pp. 1–8.
- ^ BK Sahni (2017). BPY-002: Logic: Classical and Symbolic Logic.
- ^
Note that not all theories of linguistic meaning honor the distinction between literal meaning and (this kind of) connotation. See literal and figurative language. - ^ Terry Eagleton (1991). Ideology: An Introduction. Verso. p. 197. ISBN 0-86091-538-7.
Definition of connotation: Connotation is a further association that a word suggests other than its literal dictionary meaning.
What Does Connotation Mean?
What is connotation? The connotation of a word is an idea or feeling that the word invokes in addition to its literal meaning. Words evoke many meanings to people that extend beyond the technical definitions known as denotations.
Connotations are what we associate with words based on our personal experience with them.
Examples of Connotation:
A good example of connotation in words is the word spider.
- Word = spider
- Denotation = an eight-legged arachnid.
- Connotation = many people are terrified of spiders, so fear is a common connotation when spider is used. Others might simply find them gross.
Animals make for good illustrations of connotation, so let’s look at another.
- Word = snake
- Denotation = long, limbless reptile
- Connotation = Many people associate snakes with liars and tricksters. This may have biblical origins, but it obviously differs from the denotation of the word.
What is the Difference Between Connotation and Denotation?
Connotation and denotation both deal with the meanings associated with words, but they are opposite in their approach.
- Denotations are simple and straightforward; everyone will arrive at the same meaning by using the dictionary.
- Connotations are subjective and will differ from person to person based on their social experience with the words.
Connotation vs. Denotation Example:
- Word = mushroom
- Denotation = the fleshy cap-like, spore-bearing organ of various fungi
- Connotation = pizza, gross, pests, delicacy, psychedelic, Mario Brothers
Notice how the denotation of mushroom is its technical definition that everyone will see when he or she looks the word up in a dictionary. The connotation, however, varies widely on what individual people associate with mushrooms.
The denotation of a word is limited while the connotation has the potential to be endless.
The Function of Connotation
When writing, it is important to be cognizant of a word’s denotation as well as the connotation your audience may have with it. Denotations are essential for meaning and understanding, while connotations are important in setting the mood of a piece of literature.
For example, if the purpose is to establish the mood of the story to be cool and calm, you may want to use words that evoke these feelings such as the colors green and blue.
In literature, connotation is often used to set the mood of the piece.
Here are some examples of this:
In James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis,” connation is used in order to set the mood in the introduction. It is also used to foreshadow the events to come in the story.
- “It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born, that the ibis lit in the bleeding tree. The flowering garden was stained with rotting brown magnolia petals and ironweeds grew rank amid the purple phlox.”
This example includes words that are often associated with death such as dead, bleeding, stained, rotting, brown, and rank. By using words with this connotation, Hurts sets the somber mood and foreshadows the death of the young character, Doodle.
Another example of the use of connotation is in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
- “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?/ It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”
In Romeo’s line, he compares Juliet to light and the sun. Shakespeare does this because light and sun have positive connotations. Many people associate these words with happiness; therefore, we are able to understand how Romeo feels about Juliet and that creates and exciting and romantic mood.
Positive vs. Negative Connotation
Oftentimes, words evoke either a positive or negative connotation, depending on a person’s experience with the word.
When writing, it is important to be aware of the words you are using and how they often translate to the audience. While most people may see one word in a positive light, some people may have a negative association with it, which would affect their connotation.
For example,
- Word = baby
- While most people associate babies with positive connotations, someone who has had fertility issues may have negative connotations with the word.
Summary
Define connotation: The connotation of a word is a feeling or idea that is evoked from associations with the word itself. These feelings may well extend beyond the dictionary definition.
Writers must be aware of a word’s connotation when writing in order to set the mood of their work effectively.
Final example,
From Emily Dickinson’s “ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers,”
- “ ‘ Hope’ is the thing with feathers—/ That perches in the soul—/ And sings the tune without words—/ and never stops—at all—“
In this example, Dickinson uses words with positive connotation such as feathers, soul, sings, and tune to establish the positive outlook she has regarding the concept of hope.
Contents
- 1 What Does Connotation Mean?
- 2 What is the Difference Between Connotation and Denotation?
- 3 The Function of Connotation
- 4 Examples of Connotation in Literature
- 5 Positive vs. Negative Connotation
- 6 Summary
Ever wonder why a word could have so many meanings attached to it? The definition of connotative meaning, or connotation, has to do with the socially acquired value of words. In other words, connotative meaning explains the extra meaning of words that goes beyond the dictionary definition.
Connotative meaning and connotation synonym
The definition of connotative meaning is also known as associated meaning, implied meaning, or secondary meaning. Associated meaning is the meaning that becomes attached to a word because of its use but is not part of the core sense of the word.
The opposite of connotative meaning is denotative meaning, which is the literal meaning of the word.
Each individual has a different association with a word based on their personal feelings and background, which means that connotative meaning is a cultural or emotional association to a word or phrase. The word ‘baby’ has a literal, or denotative, meaning. A baby is an infant. But if a grown man is called a ‘baby’, the connotation is negative; he is acting like a child.
Tip: the ‘con’ in the word ‘connote’ comes from the Latin for ‘in addition’. So the connotation of the word is ‘extra’ to the main meaning.
Connotation examples: connotative words
Connotation is a meaning in addition to the definitional meaning you find in a dictionary. Because of this, it is not always easy to interpret the meaning of a word based on the word’s literal meaning alone.
For example, when we use the word ‘dinner’, there is a range of possible connotations. Aside from the dictionary definition (‘a meal’), there are associated meanings that we would claim as connotative meanings:
- For one person, dinner is a time of joy, togetherness, conversation or debate, and laughter.
- For another person, dinner evokes feelings of loneliness, conflict, or silence.
- For a third, it evokes memories of kitchen aromas and certain childhood foods. The word ‘dinner’ has a range of connotations based on individual experiences.
Fig. 1 The connotative meaning of dinner could be either positive or negative.
Here’s another example of connotative meaning. If we call someone rich we can use a number of different words: loaded, privileged, wealthy, affluent. These words all have the literal meaning of rich. However, connotative words introduce negative and positive meanings that inform the reader about how an individual views a rich person.
Negative connotation, positive connotation, neutral connotation
There are three types of connotative meanings: positive, negative, and neutral. The classification is based on what kind of response the word generates.
- Positive connotation carries favourable associations.
- Negative connotation carries unfavourable associations.
- Neutral connotation carries neither favourable nor unfavorable associations.
Compare the sentences below and see if you can feel the different tones each connotation provokes:
- Tom is an extraordinary guy.
- Tom is an unusual guy.
- Tom is a weird guy.
If you think extraordinary implies positive emotions, unusual implies a neutral value, and weird gives negative associations, you’d be correct!
Here are some examples of the different types of connotative words:
| Positive connotation | Neutral connotation | Negative connotation |
| unique | different |
peculiar |
| interested | curious | nosy |
| extraordinary | unusual | weird |
| determined | strong-willed | stubborn |
| employ | use | exploit |
Connotative meanings are not only classified according to the positive / negative / neutral value a word or phrase has. Instead, there are certain forms of connotative meaning we must look at to understand the many emotional and cultural associations involved in connotative meaning.
Forms of connotative meaning
Forms of connotative meaning were first offered by Dickens, Hervey and Higgins (2016).
| Forms of Connotative Meaning | Explanation | Example |
| Associative Meaning | The overall meaning which has expectations associated with the individual. | A nurse is commonly associated with the female gender, which has meant society has adopted male nurse to counteract the feminine association with the word nurse. |
| Attitudinal Meaning | The part of an overall meaning of an expression that is influenced by a more widespread attitude to the individual. |
The derogatory term ‘pigs’ is assigned to police officers. It is implied that the speaker or writer dislikes police officers in general by referring to the collective as pigs rather than a dislike for a particular police officer. |
| Affective Meaning |
The additional meaning of the word is conveyed by the tonal register, which includes vulgar, polite, or formal. Politeness itself carries a meaning according to how a speaker addresses other individuals or learned behaviours such as holding doors open. |
Can you think of a difference between UK and US speaker’s idea of politeness? |
| Allusive meaning | When an expression evokes an associated saying or quotation in a certain way. This shows that the meaning of the saying becomes part of the overall meaning of the expression. | When an author unconsciously refers to other novels in its title, or if the title of their book involves an allusion: Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) alludes to Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1611). |
| Reflected Meaning | This is a function of polysemy, and involves the existence of two or more denotative meanings for one word. |
If we were to refer to a person as a rat: Advice — a person who betrays their friend. Rat — the image of a dirty animal. |
| Geographical Dialect-related Meaning | The speech variety in regions or geographic borders and the meanings we attach to an individual’s accent or dialect. | If we know what a Yorkshire or Scottish accent sounds like, we can understand that an individual is from Yorkshire or Scotland. We also associate stereotypical values with the individual’s character or personality. |
| Temporal dialect-related meaning | This is another speech variety that tells us when the speaker is from. |
An example includes Shakespeare’s plays, which tell us that his speakers are from the sixteenth century and have a specific attitude towards sixteenth-century politics and religion. |
| Emphasis (emphatic meaning) | This involves effect/affect in language and literature. |
Emphasis is found in devices such as parallelism, alliteration, rhyme, exclamation marks in writing, metaphor, and emphatic particles including ‘so’. (That’s so funny!) |
Connotative meaning in literature
Writers often use various connotative meanings, such as emphasis, to create multiple layers of meaning in a story. Connotation is found in figurative language which is any word or phrase used that has different meanings from the literal meaning.
Figurative language involves figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, metonymy, and personification. Let’s look at some examples of figures of speeches which have non-literal, or connotative meanings, in Literature.
Metaphor
Metaphor directly refers to one thing as another thing to express the similarities between them.
«Hope» is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
— ‘»Hope» is The Thing with Feathers‘ by Emily Dickinson (1891).
In this poem, the literal meaning of hope is used. However, hope is referred to as a feathered entity that is perched in the human soul and constantly singing. In other words, Dickinson gives the word hope a connotative meaning. The thing then has emotional meaning in addition to its literal meaning.
Simile
Simile compares two things using connecting words such ‘as’ or ‘like’ to make the comparisons.
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly jump in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune
— ‘A Red, Red Rose‘ by Robert Burns (1794).
Burns compares the narrator’s love to a red rose that is freshly sprung in June and to a beautiful tune being played. Love is described as something beautiful, vivid, and soothing, like a rose. The connecting words ‘like’ help to add additional and emotional meaning to the red, red roses.
Metonymy
Metonymy refers to a replacement of a thing by the name of something closely associated with it.
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
— ‘Sonnet XIX‘ by John Milton (1652).
This requires some background information. By 1652, Milton had become totally blind. The poem can be interpreted as Milton replacing the word ‘sight’ with my light. The sonnet reflects how the speaker faces both the physical and psychological challenges brought about by his blindness, for as a writer and translator he depended on his sight. As a poem about faith, how can Milton use his talents to serve God? Can he totally achieve an enlightened path without his sight?
Personification
Personification is the use of human characters to represent abstract ideas, animals, or inanimate things.
Earth trembl’d from her entrails, as again
In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,
Sky lowe’r’d, and muttering Thunder, some sad drops
Wept at completing the mortal Sin
Original.
— ‘Paradise Lost‘ by John Milton (1667).
In ‘Paradise Lost’, Milton portrays Nature as if it had human qualities or characteristics. Nature, thunder, and sky are given extra associated meaning because they cannot literally weep about mortal sin. The poem describes Nature as having the human trait of being able to weep. This suggests an emotional association with the image of a weeping nature.
Connotation and denotation
Connotative meaning is the opposite of denotative meaning, but how different are they? What happens if a writer uses denotation instead of connotative meaning to describe a scene? To answer these questions, let’s start with the meaning of denotation.
Denotative meaning
Denotative meaning is the literal definition of a word. Unlike connotative meaning, it does not involve cultural or emotional associations to a word or phrase. Because of this, denotative meaning is also often called the literal meaning, explicit meaning, or dictionary definition.
Denotative vs. connotative meaning in writing
Now we know the difference between the two terms, let’s use our knowledge for writing purposes!
Let’s say we are writing a scene about a man who has just arrived in Hollywood. What do you think about when you hear the word ‘Hollywood’?
- Hollywood has a denotative meaning because it is a literal place in Los Angeles.
- Hollywood also has a connotative meaning because we associate the word Hollywood with the film industry.
The man could be returning to Hollywood, his home. Or, he could be an aspiring actor who hopes to ‘make-it-big’ in Hollywood.
Fig. 2 — The connotative meaning of Hollywood is associated with the film industry.
The connotative meanings a word carries can be different for different people, and we must watch out for implied or extra meanings in literature and everyday language.
Connotative Meaning — Key takeaways
- The definition of connotative meaning is that it explains the “extra”, associated, implied, or secondary meaning of a word.
- Examples of words that have connotative meanings include ‘rich’, ‘baby’, and ‘dinner’.
- Types of connotative meaning include positive, negative, and neutral.
- Forms of connotative meaning include associative, attitudinal, affective, reflected, geographical dialect-related, temporal dialect-related, and emphasis.
- Connotative meaning in literary devices appears in metaphors, similes, metonymys, and personification.
- The difference between connotative and denotative meaning in writing depends on the tone and setting of the story.
- Definition & Examples
- When & How to Use Connotation
- Quiz
I. What is Connotation?
A connotation is a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning (the denotation). Often, a series of words can have the same basic definitions, but completely different connotations—these are the emotions or meanings implied by a word, phrase, or thing.
For example, “This clothing is affordable!” versus “This clothing is cheap!” Here, “affordable” sounds much better than “cheap,” because the word cheap also implies low quality.
Connotation is an additional meaning for a word or phrase; thus, the examples are endless. As mentioned, many words will share the same literal meaning, but may connote different feelings or ideas. Below are several examples:
- 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
- Liar, storyteller, fibber
- Independent, unfriendly, private, standoffish
Think of these words used in the similar conversations. For example, imagine the difference between describing someone as a “strong woman” or a “sturdy woman”: because of these words’ connotations, the first implies that she is strong emotionally, while the second implies that she is a sturdy physically. Now, apply these two terms to a table—a “strong table” and a “sturdy table” have essentially the same meaning.
III. Types of Connotations
Most of the examples above can be categorized as having either positive, negative, or neutral connotation, or sometimes both positive and negative, depending on how they are used.
a. Positive
A word whose connotation implies positive emotions and associations. For example, “the aroma of my grandmother’s cooking” produces a positive association, because the word “aroma” implies that the smell is pleasing and inviting.
b. Negative
A word whose connotation implies negative emotions and associations. If we exchange the adjective “aroma” in the above sentence so that it now reads “the stench of my grandmother’s cooking,” the meaning changes completely. Though both “aroma” and “stench” mean smell, “stench” has a negative connotation; thus, the meal sounds much less appealing.
c. Neutral
A word whose connotation is neither positive nor negative. For example, when speaking about a pet, the word “dog” has a neutral connotation; but, the word “mutt” has a negative connotation, and the word “purebred” has a positive connotation.
IV. Importance of Connotation
Most words have two meanings: a denotative (literal) meaning, and a connotative (implied) meaning. It is important to note that not all connotations are solely positive or solely negative—depending on how a word is used, it can connote different things. Thus it is one of the most critical things to consider when it comes to word choice, in both literature and everyday conversation. In fact, the feelings or meanings associated with words can be everything. Connotations set the tone when writing and speaking, and clarify one’s intentions —they can elicit certain emotions or reactions or help to provide distinct impressions of things. Conversely, choosing words with the wrong connotation can produce an undesired reaction or emotion and misrepresent one’s intentions.
V. Examples of Connotation in Pop Culture
Example 1
In the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Joel and Clementine’s conversation on the train takes several unanticipated turns because of the word “nice:”
Clementine: I apply my personality into paste.
Joel: Oh, I doubt that very much.
Clementine: Well, you don’t know me so… you don’t know, do you?
Joel: Sorry, I was… just trying to be nice.
Clementine: Yeah… I got it…
Clementine: … I’m Clementine, by the way.
Joel: I’m Joel.
Clementine: Hi, Joel.
Clementine: No jokes about my name… Nooo, you wouldn’t do that. You were trying to be nice.
Joel: I don’t know any jokes about your name.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (1/11) Movie CLIP — Train Ride (2004) HD
Here, the word “nice” has a negative connotation for Clementine—for her it means dull, ordinary, pleasant; it has no truly significant meaning. Joel, however, is an awkward man, and tries to use the word in a simple but positive way—clearly he finds Clementine to be a bit strange and intense, but chooses to be “nice” by using the word “nice” to describe her. For him, “nice” has a positive connotation, thus he is taken aback when Clementine has such a dramatic reaction.
Example 2
In the Christmas comedy movie Elf, Buddy the Elf gets himself into a lot of trouble because of his lack of understanding of the word “elf “in everyday American society, as can be seen from the following scene:
Buddy: I didn’t know you had elves working here!
Miles: Oh, well, you’re, you’re hilarious, My Friend.
Walter: He doesn’t, uh… Get back to the story, please.
Miles: All right, okay. [Clears throat] So, on the cover, about the title…
Buddy: Does Santa know that you left the workshop?
Miles: You know, we’re all laughing our heads off…
Buddy: Did you have to borrow a reindeer to get down here?
Walter: Buddy, go back to the basement.
Miles: Hey, Jackweed. I get more action in a week than you’ve had in your entire life. I’ve got houses in L.A., Paris & Vail, each one with a 70-Inch plasma screen. So I suggest you wipe that stupid smile off your face before I come over and smack it off! You feeling strong, my friend? Call me elf one more time!
Buddy: [Whispering] He’s an angry elf.
[Miles runs across the table to charge at Buddy.]
The Angry Elf — Elf (5/5) Movie CLIP (2003) HD
For Buddy, being an elf is his dream—he is a human with love and affection for “elf culture”- he has always wanted to be a “normal” Christmas Elf. So, when he sees Guy—a man with dwarfism—he foolishly calls him an elf. For Guy, being called an elf is incredibly belittling and insulting; for Buddy, it’s the most positive thing possible—he doesn’t understand that its use is inappropriate in this situation, since it was part of everyday language in the North Pole.
VI. Examples of Connotation in Literature
Example 1
Comics often rely on a word’s connotation to make a situation humorous, as in the comic below from Calvin and Hobbes:
Hobbes: Why are you digging a hole?
Calvin: I am looking for buried treasure!
Hobbes: What have you found?
Calvin: A few dirty rocks, a weird root, and some disgusting grubs.
Hobbes: On your first try??
Calvin: There’s treasure everywhere!
Here, Calvin says he is digging for treasure, and the word treasure has the positive connotation of something valuable. For readers, something valuable usually means money and/or gold. For Calvin and Hobbes, however, rocks, roots and grubs are valuable, and therefore, “treasure.” Though treasure connotes the same positive meaning—something valuable—for both the readers and for Calvin and Hobbes, the joke lies in the character’s unusual idea of what is valuable.
Example 2
In The Lord of the Flies, the boys infamously use a conch shell as a tool for order; whoever holds it is allowed to speak. However, as the story progresses, the conch begins to stand for more than the right to speak:
He held out the conch to Piggy, who flushed, this time with pride.
‘You must carry it’
‘When we’re ready I’ll carry -‘
Piggy sought in his mind for words to convey his passionate willingness to carry the conch against all odds.
As can be seen from the selection above, giving the conch to Piggy implies that he is being given leadership—a positive connotation. Eventually, though, the conch gains a negative connotation, an even stronger meaning for whoever possesses it: power. Holding the conch means holding the power; thus when it is broken, no one has a voice, no one has power, and things inevitably fall apart.
VII. Related Terms
Denotation
While connotation is a word’s implied meaning or feeling, a denotation is a word’s literal meaning; its definition. The two are directly connected; a word’s connotation is essentially a positive or negative extension of its denotation. To understand a word’s denotation is to understand its basic definition.
Double entendre
A double entendre is a word or phrase that has two meanings; usually one obvious and one subtle. It is a way of saying something so that it can be understood in two different ways, which makes it a very popular tool in comedy. A typical comedy routine on television might involve parents who create a double entendre so that their kids don’t know what they are talking about—for example, “Mommy needs her medicine” really means “Mommy needs her wine.” The difference between a double entendre and a connotation is that a double entendre is usually an assigned meaning, while a connotation is an implied meaning.
Homonym
A homonym is a word that is spelled one way but has two meanings. For example, “race” as in a race of people, and “race” as in a running competition, likewise, a tree has “bark” and a dog makes the sound “bark.” A homonym is different than connotation because the words’ literal, denotative meanings are different; the words solely share the same spelling.
VIII. Conclusion
In conclusion, connotation can be everything in language. It gives further meaning to words and phrases, creating positive and/or negative implications for words that have the same principal meaning. Without connotations, language would be much more limited, stagnant, and inflexible—in other words, boring!
What is connotation? We often hear about how certain things have good or bad connotations, but how do we know? We’re going to answer that question by looking at some examples of connotations in literature and film. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and apply all sorts of connotations in writing and everyday life.
What Does Connotation Mean?
Exploring the connotation meaning
What does connotation mean? The connotation meaning can be traced back to the beginning of linguistics and semiotics. Connotation is simply anytime anything is regarded as something other than its literal textbook definition. This short video from Khan Academy explores the connotation meaning by looking at connotation vs denotation examples.
Connotation Meaning • What is the Connotation Meaning
It may seem like connotation is something profoundly simple… and it is. But I suppose it’s true that sometimes the most simple ideas are the hardest to grasp. Connotation can be applied in an infinite amount of ways. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s formally define connotation.
What is connotation?
A connotation is a non-literal framing of a term that intends to add an association beyond its literal meaning. Connotations can have negative, neutral or positive implications on a term. Take happiness as the neutral for example: the negative connotation of happiness could be mania and the positive connotation could be vibrancy.
Types of Connotation:
- Negative – when a word or symbol has a non-literal association that we regard as bad.
- Neutral – when a word or symbol has a non-literal association that we don’t regard as good or bad.
- Positive – when a word or symbol has a non-literal association that we regard as good.
Connotation Definition by Contrast
Connotation meaning in literature and film
Connotation has an important meaning in literature in film; which is to suggest figuratism to the audience. Simply, connotation asks us to see the symbolic meaning of objects and words. Let’s define connotation in film with some iconic examples.
CONNOTATION EXAMPLES IN FILM
- In La Dolce Vita, the statue of Christ flying over a rooftop of bikini-clad women connotes a temporal shift in culture.
- In Apocalypse Now, the quote “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” connotes a perverse sense of victory.
- In Casablanca, the quote “round up the usual suspects” connotes that the people who are going to be in line for questioning are known to be trouble-makers.
- In Chinatown, the quote “forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown” connotes that it’s futile to try to change Chinatown.
- In Glengarry Glen Ross, the brass balls connote Blake (Alec Baldwin) is a bold character.
- In Bicycle Thieves, the bicycle connotes Antonio’s (Lamberto Maggiorani) ability to work.
Now that we’ve reviewed some connotation examples in movies, let’s define connotation in literature with a few famous examples.
CONNOTATION EXAMPLES IN LITERATURE/WRITING
- In Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18,” the line “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” connotes beauty and serenity.
- In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses juxtaposing images to connote good and evil. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
- In The Great Gatsby, the quote “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” takes “fool” – a word we typically regard with a negative connotation – and suggests something positive under the guise of the maxim: “ignorance is bliss.”
Connotation Definition by Contrast
Connotation vs denotation
The biggest difference between connotation and denotation is that the former is non-literal and the latter is literal. Let’s take the word sharp for example:
Define Connotation vs Denotation
The denotation of “sharp” is literal like a sharpened knife. In a sentence, the applied denotation would sound like “can you hand me that sharp knife?”
One connotation of “sharp” is smart or witty. In a sentence, the connotation might sound like “she’s a sharp student.”
This next video explores the differences between connotation and denotation examples in further detail.
What is Connotation? • Connotation vs Denotation Explained
It may be helpful to think of connotation and denotation as opposite terms. Whereas one relies on subjective, non-literal implications, the other relies on objective, literal inherent qualities.
The Meaning of Connotation in English
Analyzing the three types of connotation
There are three different types of connotation: positive, negative, and neutral; and all three are essential to understanding the meaning of connotation in English. Let’s break down the differences between the three terms by looking at an example.
- The word “old” has an intrinsically neutral connotation. Sometimes people use the word as an insult, but at its core, it’s simply meant to suggest the fact that something is aged.
- Two positive connotations for the word “old” are “vintage” and “matured.” “Vintage” and “matured” connote positive associations, like “vintage records” and “matured cheese.”
- Two negative connotations for the word “old” are “antiquated” and “decrepit.” “Antiquated” and “decrepit” connote negative association, like “antiquated ideals” and “decrepit houses.”
We use positive and negative connotations when we want to express how we feel about things. For example, say you’re looking to buy a house. You go on a tour with your family but are unimpressed by how old it is. Your significant other says it’s “vintage” but you say it’s “decrepit.” These connotative words express different connotations both referring to the age of the house.
Connotation Literary Definition
Connotation examples in literature
Connotation is the feeling that’s communicated by a word. Think about a word you hate. Why do you hate it? What does it remind you of? How about a word you love? Why do you love it? What do you associate it with? Most words have a connotative meaning. By understanding how connotative language is applied in literature, we can see the impact that word choice has on writing.
Think about intelligence for example:
If a writer hopes to communicate a negative connotation of intelligence, they might use the word nerd. Nerds are generally assumed to be subservient which we regard negatively.
Conversely, if a writer hopes to communicate a positive connotation of intelligence, they might use the word brilliant. Brilliance literally refers to the brightness of light, but connotatively, it’s often used to suggest great intelligence.
We know these connotations are positive or negative because they’ve been reinforced to us in our everyday culture. Ah, therein lies the rub – connotation is subjective and only applicable when people know what it means. Different words have different connotations all over the world, but there are plenty of words that have consensus connotations.
Here are some examples:
- Positive: childlike
- Negative: childish
- Positive: vintage
- Negative: decrepit
- Positive: confident
- Negative: cocky
We often see consensus connotations used in news headlines to invoke reactions from readers. Take this famous exercise as an example – two headlines address the same event but use different connotations to evoke different feelings.
- Freedom fighters gunned down in pro-democracy protest
- Rebels neutralized for illegal gathering
Two completely different things right? The difference in terms like “freedom fighters” and “rebels” or “gunned down” and “neutralized” or “protest” and “illegal gathering” have a huge effect on readers.
Now that we’ve looked at how connotations are used in news-writing, let’s look at an example from H. P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu to see how connotations are used effectively in literature to build mood.
Connotation Definition by Way of a ‘The Call of Cthulhu Excerpt’
Word choice plays a huge role in Lovecraft’s stories. What does he mean when he uses connotative words like “merciful, placid, terrifying, deadly,” etc.? Is he using them literally? Ironically? As a method of juxtaposition? Not all of these terms are used connotatively, but they’re all used expressively. So consider reading Lovecraft’s excerpt again and think about how he uses terms literally and non-literally to expert effect.
For a more specific connotation example, let’s look to William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene III:
- “What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid! Where’s this girl? What, Juliet!” – Nurse”
Did you spot the connotation? The term “ladybird” is used connotatively to compare Juliet to a ladybird – or as it was known in Shakespeare’s era, a ladybug. This excerpt from Romeo and Juliet is a great example of how to use connotation in dialogue. Let’s look at a few more connotation examples to see how they’re used in film.
Connotative Words Become Symbols
Connotation examples in film
We see connotations everywhere in cinema – like in Sunset Boulevard when Norma Desmond says “I am big! It’s the pictures that got small” with big being regarded with a positive connotation and small being regarded with a negative connotation; or when Buddy the Elf mistakenly calls Peter Dinklage’s character an elf. Of course, Dinklage’s character isn’t an elf – even though buddy earnestly thinks he is. Remember: context matters with connotation.
Connotation in film is a branch of cinematic semiotics. What is semiotics? Semiotics is the study of symbols and how they’re interpreted. So cinematic semiotics is the study of symbols as they relate to film. We connote that a symbol may mean something based on our understanding of semiotics. It’s confusing I know – let’s look at an example that may clear things up.
Connotation Def in the Red Shoes in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water’
What’s going on in this shot? What does it mean? Well, considering the context of the film, and how closely it relates to classic fairy tales, we can connote that the red shoes may be a reference to Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale The Red Shoes. Yes, the red shoes are a symbol – but connotation is one way we’re able to confirm they’re a symbol. But my analysis is only an educated guess. Just because I connote that’s what the red shoes mean doesn’t prove that’s what director Guillermo del Toro meant for them to mean.
Perhaps they’re simply red shoes. Nothing more, nothing less. But there’s no denying that red shoes in stories carry with them a certain connotation – whether they simply be an object of desire or a reference to Hans Christian Andersen’s story.
Connotation Synonym • The Red Shoes in David Lean’s ‘Summertime’
Connotation is something that’s very important to understanding film language. For more on connotation and semiotics analysis, check out the video below.
What is Connotation in Symbols? • Semiotics Analysis for Beginners
The video does a great job of proving why understanding the four elements of film language: mise en scene, sound, camerawork, and editing are essential in applying semiotic analysis and recognizing denotations and connotations.
The Meaning of Connotation for Artists
How connotation can help writers
So, what is connotation? Connotation allows artists to communicate figurative meaning to the audience.
Here are some points you should consider in order to effectively communicate positive, negative, and neutral connotations in writing:
Consider your perception of words and objects. As an exercise, take a word and object and think about whether they have an intrinsic positive, negative, or neutral connotation.
If a word or object can be interpreted in a variety of ways, consider using context to further define its connotation.
Don’t be afraid to be bold while expressing connotative words and objects – highlight metaphorical language in writing and emphasize important objects in scripts.
Connotations are a pathway towards turning objects into symbols and metaphors. Just remember that connotations are often subjective and difficult to identify.
But by appropriately applying connotations, you can add linguistic/visual nuance and metaphorical impact to your own stories. Ultimately, a connotation is a gateway to the world of non-literal storytelling
UP NEXT
How to Turn Props Into Symbols
Props serve as perfect instruments for translating connotative meaning. In this next article, we look at a variety of props from Juno, Star Wars, and more to see how filmmakers use items to convey metaphorical meaning. Our guide might inspire you to turn a prop into a symbol in your next film or play!