1.

Denotation + examples

3. Class membership + Denotatum = extensional definition / Denotata + the intensional

definition = denotata

3. Connotation + examples

4. Conclusion (terminology vs. Lexicology)

Denotation is the aspect of meaning which relates a lexeme to the outside world,
meaning that if a lexeme has a physical existence in the real world then it has
meaning and if it does not exist in the outside world then it has no meaning. That is,
the denotative meaning is based on describing the properties of a real being that
exist in the outside world. For example, the lexeme/word “girl” denotes it has a
number of properties such as |+living being |+non adult |+female. Furthermore,
linguists use denotatum and denotata as linguistic tools in order to describe a
particular set of individual that exist in the real world. To illustrate, denotatum is used
to define the set of individuals that obtain a number of properties which categorize all
individuals in a single class. For example, the denotatum of the lexeme cow is the
class of animals called cows in which they share common properties that allows
them to form a general class called denotatum. Moreover, denotata is used to
describe the properties of actual individuals that share common properties which
allow them to belong to a particular general class. For example, it is obvious that the
class cows is considered as a general class of animals, denotata, however, will be
used in this context to define those properties of a cow that allow it to belong to its
general class, such as +eats grass +can’t speak +produces milk, these properties of
a cow would eventually allow it to belong to the general class of cows. However,
logicians may additionally use two notions to denote the properties of the
object/individual that has physical existence in the real world. Those two notions are
called extension and intension, which can be explained within the frame called the
logic of classes. First, we can define class membership by listing the members of the
class (the extensional definition of a class) meaning that we should first list the
class of things which it is correctly applied. In fact, it is a way of looking for all
individuals that exist in the real world to which the properties that define the
class correctly applied. For example, the essential property that qualifies the class
of dogs is canine. Dogs are characterized by the property canine. Meaning, all dogs
have this property of canine. So we can say that the class of dogs (belongs) to all
beings in the universe which have this property (canine). Second, the notion of
intension or (intensional definition of a class) is ultimately based on listing the
number properties which all the members have in common. In fact, the
intension of a term is the set of essential properties which determine the
applicability of a term. To explain, in order for dogs to belong the class of canine,
they should obtain a number of properties which allow them to belong to the general
class which is called canine. That is, if we want to go back to our distinction between
denotatum and denotata we can say that the denotatum is defined by the extension
of a class which includes the properties that are shared by all beings or individual
members of a class. And denotata form of what we call the intension of the class in
the physical world. The intension of a class includes all the individuals that share the
common properties defined by those properties that allow them to be part of the
extension of the class.

Finally, we can say that the extension of the class of cow: +animal, +bovine, +female
and the intension of the class animal: +living being, +can feel, +can move, +cannot
speak. The extension of animal is greater than the intension of cow because animals
include lesser properties than the class of cow. The class of cows is reduced
because it includes more properties that limit its members and vice versa. As a
conclusion, we can say that the greater the extension of a term the less is its
intension, and the greater the intension of a term the less is its extension.

The extension of cow:

+animal, +bovine, +female

The intension of cow:

+living being, +can feel, +can move, +cannot speak

Connotation is another aspect of meaning which refers to the associations that most
words naturally carry with them. In other words, it is a representation of various social
overtones, cultural implications, or emotional meanings associated with the lexeme,
and it emanates from our culture, our beliefs and our costumes; it is not related to the
essence of the properties if the object. For example, the lexeme “gold” might have
denotative features that are +Metal +can melt +yellow colored +used in making
jewelries and coins. However, connotative meaning reflects the cultural aspect of
meaning of “gold” such as (+precious +luxury +richness ECT...); whereas, inside
other communities, gold could not be less valued nor it would indicate preciousness
or luxury. That is, the features of the connotative aspect of meaning are subjective
and not stable because they differ from a culture to another. To conclude, the
denotative meaning is considered of the terminology definition, which concerned with
the term as a part of the vocabulary used of a scientific, or a technical field of study
and it is something which is shared by all languages in the world. While, the
connotative meaning is considered of the lexicology definition, which is concerned
with words and how they are commonly used by language speakers.