How clear are you on the difference between a denotation and a connotation? I learned something yesterday that led me to a simple but profound realization.
I wasn’t as clear as I thought.
A denotation is a word’s literal meaning, not the feelings it gives you.
A connotation is the ideas or feelings a word triggers, beyond its literal meaning.
I know we associate words with meaning beyond their literal definition. But I was unfamiliar with these definitions and their relationship to each other.
Understanding denotation and connotation can shed light on breakdowns in communication, intent, and meaning. It can help you become a better message sender and a better message interpreter.
For example, the denotation of entitled or entitlement is having a right to something, but the connotation triggers judgments of bad attitude, weak character, lack of respect, avoidance of hard work, and more feelings down that path.
The connotation of entitlement, in most cases, overrides the denotation. People connect more with the ideas and feelings that entitlement suggests than its literal meaning.
It is impossible to use the word entitlement and limit people’s interpretation to its literal definition. People will interpret the meaning of that word through its connotations, even when that’s not your intent.
So, words have two kinds of meaning:
- Literal, dictionary definition.
- Ideas and feelings associated with the word.
Both feel true and accurate to the receiver.
What commonly used words can you think of where the connotation is different than its denotation?
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