Online English Tutor – Denotation and Connotation
I know, it can be a bit confusing, but like the song says, "...you know sometimes words have two meanings."
Our discussion for the online English tutor today centers on finding the meaning of words. In general, words have a denotation and a connotation. Both are very important.
The denotation gives us the basic meaning of the word. The connotation provides the tone, color, implication or subtle meaning behind the word. You need to know both if you hope to use a word properly.
Knowing both can also help us better understand some of the subtle meanings a writer or speaker is trying to convey – or hide.
Let’s look at four words that have the same denotation, but very different connotations.
- I tend to be organized with school work.
- His inclination is to study a matter before making a decision.
- The entrepreneur has a propensity for problem solving.
- It’s a proclivity of his; failing to recognize the property rights of others.
In the first sentence, the word ‘tend’ denotes a leaning or pattern of behavior, perhaps by nature or choice. In the second sentence, use of the word ‘inclination’ appears to me as a stronger tendency, something preferred as a behavior pattern. The third sentence uses the word ‘propensity’ to express leaning, but its connotation is that of a deliberate or proactive leaning, not merely something that happens by chance or preference. The fourth sentence uses the word ‘proclivity’ because it speaks about a leaning that is negative, undesirable, or unwanted.
So, there are four examples of words that have the same denotation – they’re related to one another in their basic meaning – a pattern of behavior. Some might call them synonyms. The connotation of each word helps us see subtle and yet important differences between the first three, and a tremendous difference between the first three and the last example in the list. Clearly we want to be known for our tendencies, inclinations and propensities, not our proclivities, even though they all describe a pattern of behavior.
With that under our belts, it should be easier to discuss selection of words and misuse of words as we continue with the series that we call online English tutor.
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Clair Schwan is well known among his friends for his many propensities and inclinations, and thankfully he only has a few proclivities that are less well known. It is his hope that readers will develop at least an inclination to sharpen the language tools in their self reliance toolbox, for they are often a key to success in both our personal and professional lives.
