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Analyzing DictionContributors:Mrs. SmithMiss Cullen

DICTION

Diction, word choice, is the most powerful element of style for you to understand.

Many words in our language have strong connotations and authors use them on purpose to elicit certain responses from the reader.

Denotation• Denotation- literal dictionary

definition of a word.–Example: The words plump and

obese both literally describe a person who is overweight. They are synonyms.

Connotation• Connotation-implied or suggested

meaning attached to a word or the emotional “tag” that goes along with a word.

Connotation illustrates ways in which we use a word.

FOR EXAMPLE:• Let’s think about the words plump

and obese.• Both plump and obese have the

same literal definition, but the connotations are different.

Plump• The word plump has the connotation

of being pleasantly fat, almost cutely overweight.

• Its connotation describes women more often than men.

• It is this extra emotional feeling that shows how we use the word.

Obese• The word obese , often used by

medical personnel, has a more technical connotation.

• It carries a less emotional, more scientific emotional tag.

• Or it carries a more negative emotional tag.

Connotative Diction Comparison

• What is your emotional reaction to the boy in each sentence below?

• The boy looked around the class, congratulating himself for achieving the

highest grade on the test.

• The boy surveyed the class, congratulating himself for snatching the highest grade on

the test.

Connotative Diction• The boy surveyed the class,

congratulating himself for snatching the highest grade on

the test.

–Two words are important here: surveyed and snatching. They are the words with the strongest connotations.

Commentary• Once you identify an

author’s diction, you must analyze it.

• This means that you write commentary about it.

• You must discuss the connotation of the word or phrase.

Word Connotation

surveyed conveys the idea of someone looking around as if he were gazing on lesser beings

Practice• Now it is your

turn to try some commentary for the other strong connotative word in the sample- snatching.

Word Connotation

snatching

Diction may be…• 1. The choice of appropriate

language for your audience:• A. technical (computer manual)• B. formal (application letter to a

college)• C. informal (a personal experience

story)• D. familiar (a letter to your best

friend)

• 2. The specific choice of words for their meaning or for their connotation (associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word).

• Connotation is different for different people.• A cat is not simply a cat to everyone. An

author’s specific word choice- a “ferocious feline” or a “fuzzy furball”- influences the reader and creates tone.

Good Diction is Effective• Think of a menu from a fancy restaurant:• “Juicy rib-eye, charbroiled with a hint of

mesquite and garlic”• “Creamy, garlic mashed potatoes with a

luscious hint of butter, cheese, sour cream and bacon”

• What emotional reaction does this menu what you to have?

• Makes you hungry right?! Good diction is effective!

Essay Writing• Diction analysis is useful in essays

that require you to:• Analyze an author’s style, the

author’s tone, and/or the author’s diction.

Diction Analysis• The following words are closely

related in meaning, but differ in connotation.

• 1. Select one pair. • 2. Create a T-chart and write each

word at the top of the T-chart.• Write the connotative associations

for each word in the T-chart.

Analyze this pair of words for Connotation

GANG CLUB

Choose one Pair to Analyze for Connotation

Art & Craft Faith & Creed Gang & Club

Imaginative & Fanciful Instrument & Tool Intelligent & Smart

Labor & Work Lady & Woman

Recreation & Play Religion & Cult

Terrorist & Revolutionary