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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