Level

Grade 8-12 (13-18 years)
Most effective 13-15 years

Aims & Objectives

1. To understand that different words with the same denotative meaning can have different connotative meanings
2. To identify the connotations of some common words
3. To deliberately use connotations in constructing meaning

Lesson Plan

1. Form groups of 4 or 5, and hand out the worksheet. Each group should do exercise one, matching words which have the same denotative meaning to make lists of words (A-E) with similar meanings.
2. Discuss the lists, making sure each group has grouped the words correctly.
3. Each group is given a different word group (A-E), and should list the words in order from the most pleasant (positive) to the most unpleasant (negative).
4. Each group reports back to the class, and their choices are discussed.
5. Individually, or in writing groups, students do Exercise 2.

Connotations

As you know, many words have similar meanings, and we call these synonyms. This is especially true of English because English has borrowed from so many different languages (Anglo-Saxon/French/Latin/the colonies) that there are many words for one concept or thing.

However, these synonyms seldom have exactly the same meaning. Very often different words will have different feelings and attitudes attached to them. These feelings and associations are called connotations. In English the connotations of words are very important because they carry such different emotions.

For example. If you call a girl skinny she will feel hurt. But if you call her slender she will be pleased. Both words mean thin, but the connotations of each word are very different.

Exercise 1

Now list each word in order from the most pleasant (positive) to the most unpleasant (negative).

Exercise 2