connotation - JJ Daniell Middle School

Oops! A girl is walking down the hall at school. She spots a boy she’s been dying to meet coming toward her. They are almost right next to each other when she slips, loses her balance, and falls to the floor in a clumsy heap. How could a moment like this possibly have a positive outcome?

Quick-write: In your journal, jot down your response to the question above. illustrationsource.com

Pre-reading FYI • Christmas is not celebrated by all cultures. • Other cultures do not eat the sorts of traditional foods that Americans tend to eat for celebrations. • Chinese Family Meal

Pre-reading FYI • Chinese New Year is the Chinese version of Christmas in China, but many Chinese get in the holiday spirit at Christmas. Christmas is not an official holiday in China, so most offices, schools and shops remain open. All the trappings of a Western Christmas can be found in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan

The Meanings of Words Denotation and Connotation

Denotation The strict dictionary meaning of a word

Connotation The emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word

Denotation vs. Connotation

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• Denotation is the dictionary or literal meaning of a word. Connotative words imply emotions. Plump = a full, round. Fat = While similar in meaning to plump, it has a very harsh and mean tone.

Word Choice You may live in a house, but we live in a home. The connotation in this sentence is that a “home” is much more than merely the structure of a house.

The connotation of a word is often either positive or negative Positive We bought

inexpensive

souvenirs at the amusement park.

Negative We bought cheap souvenirs at the amusement park.

Which word has a positive connotation and which has a negative one?  Everyone

had a smirk on his/her face on the ride home.  Everyone had a smile on his/her face on the way home.

Connotation: Negative

I ate a soggy sandwich.

Another example…  You

look a little odd today.  You look really weird today. Which one do think has a stronger, more negative feel to it?

Which word has a positive connotation? You Decide! average

mediocre

childish

childlike

spit

saliva

antique

old-fashioned

Connotation • Opposite of Denotation • Implied Meaning • May be Favorable or unfavorable

Which words have negative connotations? You Decide! 1. The (odor, fragrance) of apple blossoms filled the entire valley. 2. A (swarm, bunch) of bees filled the air near the hive.

Tone = Emotion  The

tone of the words is what evokes a certain emotion.

Let’s Play...

Word Choice

Word Choice Positive Viewpoint

Negative Viewpoint

100

100

200

200

300

300

Positive Connotation  immature

 youthful



Back to Game

Positive Connotation  limit

 restrict



Back to Game

Negative Connotation  stingy

 thrifty



Back to Game

Negative Connotation  cluttered

 messy



Back to Game

Negative Connotation  unusual

 weird



Back to Game

Fish Cheeks Reread the story and highlight the connotations. Identify if it is a positive (+) or negative (-) connotation.

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The kitchen was littered with appalling mounds of raw food…