Denotation and connotation
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What would you call it?
 Cafe
 Restaurant
 Bistro
 Diner
They all have the same denotation = actual
meaning!
But do they have the same connotation? = word
association
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They all have the same denotation
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But what is the connotation of each word?
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Ask?
Question?
Interrogate?
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Positive, negative
or neutral?
Man
Gentleman
Dude
Bloke
Geezer
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Positive, negative
or neutral?
Man
Gentleman
Dude
Bloke
Geezer
Tramp
Homeless
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Loo
Toilet
Dunny
Bog
Lavatory
WC
Bathroom
Which are positive/ formal,
which are neutral, which are
negative/ informal?
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Look at the following pictures
Come up with as many words as you can for
each
Which of your words would be considered
neutral? Formal? Informal?
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Words may mean the same (denotation), but
have different effects on us/ different
associations (connotation)
This is because the words probably came
from different languages/ influences
Some words are considered more formal than
others
When we use the wrong word, it can cause
problems
Think of a time when you have used a word in
the wrong context
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