Modern language, whatever it may be - Russian, English, Arabic or any other - contains a huge number of tokens. Each of them is individual and has its own specific meaning and character. Among such a variety, “connotation” is far from the last place in our modern speech. This term has a clear and simple meaning, moreover, we use it almost every day.
Decoding and interpretation of the concept
Often we encounter certain actions of other people, phenomena or objects that already have their clear name, but we really want to name them differently. It’s just that at the moment they are causing us just such associations for one or another objective reason. In such cases, we pronounce a connotation. This is the associative meaning of the word, which acts as an additional and at the same time has an extremely bright emotional coloring. The “new name” that we came up with something can remotely remind of it or be a word directly opposite to the indicated phenomenon / subject. It is important to note that we often use the connotation of the word in those cases when we feel a strong surge of emotions. So, they are both positive and negative, and it is from these sensations that the essence of our perception changes.
It is interesting to know that the term "connotation" comes from the Latin "con - together" and "noto - denote." Also, this phenomenon may be called the "semantic association".
We give simple examples
Before we go further into the study of the theoretical aspect of this term, it is worth learning it through concrete examples. Connotation is something without which it is difficult to imagine modern speech. We use this technique all the time and don’t even notice how we do it. So, in what words is this phenomenon traced?
- The fox is deceit.
- The cock is cockiness.
- Saw - monotonously report.
Similar examples can also be given in the sentences:
- "How can one live in such a Crib ?!" - where BREED is used in the meaning of dirty housing, and not a covered pen for livestock.
- "His essay consisted of WATER" - that is, excess words.
There are a million similar examples; you yourself can now invent and recall them from your own experience.
In captivity at synonyms
A synonym is a very convenient speech unit. Sometimes in an extreme situation we cannot recall a specific word and instead use a word similar to it in meaning. The same object or phenomenon may have two, three or more synonyms that will directly characterize it. But what happens to these identical terms when they turn into a connotation?
The meaning of each of them becomes completely different, it describes other qualities, a different character. What we characterized a specific subject in an emotional interpretation becomes completely different. The simplest and most vivid example is an animal called "donkey" and its faithful synonym "donkey". If you use these words as a connotation, then "donkey" will mean "obstinacy", but "donkey" - "the ability to pull an excessive burden and work for a long time."
Different culture - different meanings
Language is a phenomenon that arose during the development of a particular human culture. It is interconnected with climate, with flora and fauna, with customs and beliefs. Each language has its own, incomprehensible to anyone, except its speakers, sayings. Their sacred meaning is hidden in the foundations of culture and religion that exist within the framework of this speech. That is why for people speaking different languages, in most cases, connotations are purely individual things that only they understand.
We give an example with the word "elephant". We often talk about clumsy people: “Like an elephant walked over my legs!”, Implying that a person, like this huge animal, may step on something and not even notice it. But in Indian culture, the identification of someone with an elephant is considered the highest praise and a sign that a person is considered graceful and refined. Indeed, for them, elephants are holy and very valuable animals.
Similar cultural connotations can be seen on the example of pigs, dogs and other animals, the significance of which is different for each people.
Denotation
In the course of the development of the language as a separate structure based on grammar, such a concept as “connotation” took over two subspecies. The first of them was called "denotation" and became in some way the "good half" of the basic term.
So, denotation refers to the strengthening of the literal meaning of the word. In other words, associations or comparisons of various features of objects and phenomena are not used here. Just a word is used in a broader sense. Let's draw an analogy with the term "pen". Previously, they wrote only to them - there were no pens. As a result, the pen has become a symbol of authorship, shorthand, and other humanitarian fields of activity. For this reason, the "pen" began to be attributed to the authors who wrote ingenious works.
Peiorato
And now let's find out what is a negative connotation and what are its features. “Peyiorato” - this is the term that was chosen in order to characterize negative associations with a person, object or phenomenon without going over to swear words and obscene remarks. The initial value of payorants does not have a negative color, and can even be extremely positive. But in a specific context, these words acquire a negative meaning and sound extremely offensive.
Take the word rag. In fact, this is a piece of cloth for cleaning the premises, but, referred to a person, it turns into a description of his inability to solve problems and confront them.
Conclusion
Connotation is something without which no person can live. In any language and within the framework of any culture, we express our emotions by applying different, even inappropriate, words to this end.