Connotation And Denotation- An Exercise

Here's what will hopefully be a fun and somewhat educational topic- one that shouldn't lead to an argument and should help us better understand one another.

For those that may not remember their high-school English classes all that well, denotation refers to the dictionary definition of a word- what it literally means, while connotation refers to what it implies. Since poor word choice has sometimes been a factor in threads getting out of hand, perhaps finding what different words mean to different people will help us see eachothers' perspectives a bit.

Here's a few starter list of words and phrases- The word in the header is the "blanket term" the words that follow. Using this list, tell me what each means to you and which, if any, are just flat out synonyms to you. My own meanings will be in hottips to prevent poisoning others' interpretations.

Discussion:

• Debate*
  A simple, calm discussion where people use facts to support their opinions
• Argument*
  What happens when a debate gets out of hand- people stop using fact and start using emotion, attacking the other person rather than their opinions
• Talk/chat*
  synonmous with discussion

Attractive:

• Pretty*
  Attractive, in a feminine way
• Hot*
  Attractive, in a sexual way
• Handsome*
  Attractive, in a masculine way
• Cute*
  Attractive in such a way as to trigger a protective instinct- generally non-sexual.
• Sexy*
  Synonomous with hot

Disagree (With)

• Hate*
  Irrationally, strongly, dislike
• Don't Care For*
  Have a generally neutral but somewhat negative opinion of something
• Disapprove (Of)*
  Have a generally negative opinion of something for one reason or another

Privilege

• "To Have It Easy" *
  To rarely or never have to struggle((in the context of whatever))
• To Be Better (Than)*
  To objectively (or subjectively) be better off than another thing/person

Please, feel free to add your own word-tree... things.

edited 25th Feb '12 5:19:22 PM by Wulf

Debate A discussion where two people both argue.
Argument A discussion where two people both argue.
Talk/chat Two people blah blah blah blah. Inane and fun time waster.

Pretty Beautiful, in a normal way.
Hot Beautiful, in a sexual way.
Handsome Having a higher class look to them, usually used as a replacement for beautiful for males
Cute Beautiful, in a delicate or innocent way
Sexy Makes you think of having sex

Hate Would beat up if I could get away with it. Maybe kill on a bad day. Don't Care For Dislike, but I will put up with it.
Disapprove (Of)[[spoilers: I disagree with this]]

"To Have It Easy"
To Be Better (Than) Both are literal

edited 26th Feb '12 12:38:01 AM by TheDeadMansLife

Discussion:

• Debate - Using facts to espouse contrary points of view.

• Argument - A heated and chaotic debate, likely low on logic and high on aggression.

• Talk/chat - Discussion without any particular goal or structure.

Attractive:

• Pretty - Pleasing to look at, though not pleasing enough to warrant the use of 'beautiful'.

• Hot - Causes sexual arousal. Vulgar term.

• Handsome - Pleasing to look at, though more masculine than 'pretty'.

• Cute - Having qualities similar to a young animal, encouraging an urge to nurture.

• Sexy - Causing sexual arousal in a less crass manner than 'hot'.

Disagree (With)

• Hate - Desire to destroy.

• Don't Care For - Consider a thing a waste of time.

• Disapprove (Of) - Believe that a thing should not exist or be done.

Privilege

• "To Have It Easy" - Not having to work to achieve goals.

• To Be Better (Than) - To have more positive qualities than an alternative action or individual.

edited 26th Feb '12 3:00:58 AM by InverurieJones