Denotation & Connotation

and Their Applications in Translation

Presented by:
 Table of Contents

Detonation Connotation
01 Hoàng Trung Dũng
02 Đỗ Nhật Minh

03 Relation and differences Usages

Đoàn Thị Hậu 04 Trương Đức Thắng
 01

02

01 03

Denotation 04

05

06
 1.1 Definition 01

02
Present the literal meaning
of a word For example: 03
‘Hollywood’
Denotation is the strict denotes an area 04
dictionary meaning of a word. of Los Angeles,
worldwide known as 05
the center of the
Explicit and direct meaning, no American
referring, no emotional feeling 06
movie industry
 1.2 Features 01

02

Each word has its own denotation, 03

but multiple word can also have the same denotation
04

05

Ex: clever, brilliant, smart,

06
intelligent, brainy
 1.2 Features 01

02

Denotation isn’t always neutral, 03

the dictionary definition of a word
can be positive or negative on its own.  04

05
Ex: thin, slim, slender, kinny,
lanky 06
 1.2 Features 01

02

03
Denotation is objective. The dictionary definition
of a word will always be the same no matter 04
what.
05

06
Ex: the heart, the seed
 1.2 Features 01

02

03

Denotation is straightforward 04

05

Ex: the heart is a muscular organ that pumps 06

the blood through the circulatory system
 1.3 Importance 01

02

03
Denotation clearly convey the explicit meaning of
a word to avoid misunderstanding and metaphor 04

05

Ex: Prescription, 06
user manual, text book
 1.3 Importance 01

02

Denotation is used all over the literary world by 03

writters and poets
04

05

Ex: The daffodils of W. Worthword 06

Aristotle’s The Nicomachean Ethics
 01

02

02 03

Connotation 04

05

06
 01

Connotation 02

03
Definition
04
Types of connotation
05

Importance of connotation 06
 1. Definition 01

A connotation is a feeling or 02
idea that a word has, in
addition to its literal or main 03
meaning (the denotation)
04

Often, a series of words can have the 05

same basic definitions, but completely
different connotations—these are the
06
emotions or meanings implied by a
word, phrase, or thing.
 Example 01

02
“This pant is affordable!”
03

“This pant is cheap!” 04

05

- Strong, tough, sturdy, hard 06

- Rich, loaded, privileged, wealthy
- Tempting, attractive, interesting
 Types of connotation 01

02

1. Positive
03

 A word whose connotation implies positive 04

emotions and associations.
05

Ex: “ The aroma of my grandmother’s

06
cooking”
 1.2 Features 01

02

03
Denotation is objective. The dictionary definition
of a word will always be the same no matter 04
what.
05

06
Ex: the heart, the seed
 Types of connotation 01

02

2. Negative 03

A word whose connotation implies negative 04

emotions and associations.
05
Ex: “ The stench of my grandmother’s
cooking” 06
 Types of connotation 01

02

3. Neutral 03

A word whose connotation is neither positive nor 04

negative.
05
Ex: Skinny
Lithe
06
Thin
 Importance 01

02

1. Write a multidimensional text : 03

Connotation is useful in creating imagery 04

05
Ex: “He was dressed like a pig”
06

Ex: “He was unkempt”

 Importance 01

02
2. Develop characters
Readers visualize a story based on the descriptions a writer 03
provides. If a character is described with positive connotations,
readers will like them more. 04

05
Ex: Agatha Christie’s ‘’The Murder
of Roger Ackroyd ’’ 06
- Dr. James Sheppard
 Importance 01

02
3. Draw emotion out of language
03
- Connotation draws emotion out of language, for
04
both the writer and reader.
05

Ex: L. Frank Baum’s ‘’The Wizard of Oz’’ 06

- Dorothy
 01

3 02

03
Relation and difference
between connotation 04

and denotation 05

06
 3.1. Relation 01

02
Connotation Denotation
03
They
complement 04
each other
05

06
Secondary
Actual meaning
meaning of a word
 3.1. Relation 01

02
Example

Connotation of the 03

Its denotation is a same sign could be

04
type of flower love, romance, or
“rose” passion.
05

06
 3.2. Differences 01

Connotation Denotation 02

-
03
- An association of a term.
- It can be an emotional input 04
- Actual literal definition or
attached to a word thus
making it more figurative and
suggestive.
vs meaning of a word or term.
- It is the dictionary definition 05
- Gives a more limited yet
- It has a variety of
descriptive definition of a term.
descriptions affected by mood,
06
emotion, experience, and
season, among other factors.
 3.3 Differences 01

02
Example

Denotation: This Connotation: That 03

shirt is cheap t-shirt was so

04
enough for me to cheap, it pilled in a
afford. “Cheap”: matter of weeks
to cost very 05
little
06
 3.3 Differences 01

02
Example
03
Denotation: The Connotation: What
court said she was does she know. 04
innocent. “Innocent”: She's so innocent.
free from guilt 05
or wrongdoing
06
 04 01

02

Usage 03

of denotation 04

and 05

connotation 06
1. In poetry
• A key component of poetry is word choice
• Give the poetry greater depth and deeper
meaning

The detective
The detective darted through
sprinted through
the trees the trees
 2. In cinematic

What the audience sees and

hears is denotative

At the same time these sounds and

images are connotative
Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker

I am your father
 01

02

03

04
Thanks for your attention
05

06