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The hidden meanings, powerful feelings and
associations that a word arouses.
A person’s field of experience affects the person’s
feelings about a word.
Words can have
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positive connotations – handsome, natural
Negative connotations- pain, foul, bully
Neutral connotations- table, number, paper
Example of words with similar denotations, but
different connotation: Fat/ overweight;
pretty/attractive/ beautiful; woman/lady/
http://www.flocabulary.com/word-choice/
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The dictionary meaning of a word
Example:
Overweight: Definition of OVERWEIGHT
1: weight over and above what is required or
allowed
2: excessive or burdensome weight
Fat-having a lot of extra flesh on your body :
having a lot of body fat
: having a full, rounded form
: unusually wide or thick
Examples of Connotative Words
Connotation Exercise #1
Below are groups of words which are often used to
describe people. What are the connotations of the words?
Childlike, Youthful, Childish, Young
Disabled, Crippled, Handicapped
Relaxed, Laid-back, Lackadaisical, Easy-going
Slim, Skinny, Slender, Thin
Cheap, Frugal, Miserly, Economical
Young, Immature, Juvenile, Youthful
Inquisitive, Interested, Curious, Convivial
Confident, Secure, Proud, Egotistical
Lovely, Knockout, Beautiful, Stunning
Talkative, Conversational, Chatty, Nosy
Connotation Exercise #2
Read the sentences below. Can you identify the words
that have a negative connotation?
1.Bedford is an uppity neighborhood, but the rents are
cheap.
2.On my flight to Los Angeles, I sat next to this babe.
She was absolutely stunning.
3.Every morning my neighbor takes his mutt to the
park. It always barks loudly when leaving the building.
4.You need to be pushy when you are looking for a job.
5.Bob is quite vocal at every staff meeting. He always
speaks.
Answer Key: 1. Uppity; 2. Babe; 3. Mutt; 4. Pushy; 5.
Vocal
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Standard American
Language
Language that follows
the rules and guidelines
found in grammar and
composition books
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Non- standard
language
Not conforming to rules
and guidelines of
grammar and
composition, and
considered acceptable by
most educated native
speakers
A Subsystem of an established language
 Slang-recently coined words or old words used
in new ways.
 Jargon- specialized vocabulary used by people
in by people in the same line of work or hobby
 Dialect- a particular form of a language that is
peculiar to a specific region or cultural group
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Slang
Timely
 Informal
 Used by social groups or sub-social groups
 Defines the group and keeps others out
 Nonstandard
 Usually when it becomes mainstream, it changes
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Jargon:
From old French word
that means “warbling
of birds”
People use jargon to
have a “common
language” to discuss a
subject’
Use to distinguish
themselves from those
outside the group.
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Who uses jargon?
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occupations
technology
The arts
Trades
Sciences
Examples from
medicine:
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BP= blood pressure
FX= bone fracture