#Connotation

[infinitysisters]

"The truth is not simply that words originally innocent tend to acquire a bad sense. The truth is that words originally descriptive tend to become terms either of mere praise or of mere blame.

The vocabulary of flattery and insult is continually enlarged at the expense of the vocabulary of definition. As old horses go to the knacker's yard, or old ships to the breakers, so words in their last decay go to swell the enormous list of synonyms for good and bad.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞

This process is going on very rapidly at the moment. The words 'abstract' and 'concrete' were first coined to express a distinction which is really necessary to thought: but it is only for the very highly educated that they still do so.

In popular language 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦 now means something like "clearly defined and practicable"; it has become a term of praise.

𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 means "vague, shadowy, unsubstantial"; it has become a term of reproach.

𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯, in the mouths of many speakers, has ceased to be a chronological term ; it has "sunk into a good sense" and often means little more than "efficient" or in some contexts "kind" ;

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 can no longer be used in its proper sense without explanation.

𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 is a mere term of approval;

To save any word from the eulogistic and dyslogistic abyss is a task worth the efforts of all who love the English language. And I can think of one word—the word 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯—which is at this moment on the brink.

That is always the trouble about allowing words to slip into the abyss. Once turn 𝘴��𝘪𝘯𝘦 into a mere insult, and you need a new word (pig) when you want to talk about the animal. Once let 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘮 dwindle into a useless synonym for cruelty, and what do you do when you have to refer to the highly special perversion which actually afflicted M. de Sade?

It is important to notice that the danger to the word "Christian" comes not from its open enemies, but from its friends.

It was not egalitarians, it was officious admirers of gentility, who killed the word 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯. The other day I had occasion to say that certain people were not Christians; a critic asked how I dared say so, being unable (as of course I am) to read their hearts. I had used the word to mean "persons who profess belief in the specific doctrines of Christianity"; my critic wanted me to use it in what he would (rightly) call "a far deeper sense"—a sense so deep that no human observer can tell to whom it applies.

And is that deeper sense not more important? It is indeed ; just as it was more important to be a "real" gentleman than to have coat-armour. But the most important sense of a word is not always the most useful. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

And when, however reverently, you have killed a word you have also, as far as in you lay, blotted from the human mind the thing that word originally stood for.

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲."

＿＿＿＿

C.S. Lewis, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴

September 22, 1944

[withinthebrain]

Play Fair

I was five when I heard the yelling, "Cheating!" my mother’s voice screeched like my pet parrot. But we weren’t playing a board game. And I was alone in the kitchen, just cold spaghetti on the counter. Father’s silence was unusual, and then a door slammed, too hard. It felt like something in me cracked. I didn’t understand. How do you cheat when no one's playing?

At ten, I whispered the answer "Catastrophe" to Ben, because he always let me copy his math homework, and we shared peanut butter crackers and secrets about monsters under our beds. The teacher called it cheating. But I said, "It’s not cheating to help a friend." Still, she marked my name with a red pen that bled through the paper and that crack of guilt grew deeper.

At sixteen, I learned the other kind of cheating, the kind that five year old me had never grasped. The kind that doesn’t come with test scores or teacher scowls, just the susurrus of gossip in the halls, and my girlfriend’s selfish laugh the truth spilling from my best friend's mouth. I asked her if it was true. She didn’t deny it. "It didn’t mean anything," she said, but it meant everything to me.

Now I’m thirty. Married. Two kids. Two jobs. A life of comfort, but most days I just don't feel like me. Her phone lights up with a name I don’t recognize. She turns it over. I turn away.

And here, back in the kitchen, the hum of the fridge drowning the silence. I catch my reflection in the dark glass of the window. I look tired. Like someone who’s played fair for too long. And I wonder... Is it worth the cheating?

[lawlessgodlessflawless]

drag queen name Connie Tation

[areadersquoteslibrary]

"There ought to be some way of dry-cleaning and disinfecting words."

- Aldous Huxley, 'Eyeless in Gaza'

[rrkittenzz]

𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤

I love the color pink. Day by day, I see colors in my life, like the yellow car i saw yesterday, or the current red book I'm reading. I like the other colors too. Everything doesn't have to be pink so that I can like it.

But still, there's a little hope in me that I'd see pink, because I love pink. Even if I'm okay with other colors, I feel happy when it's pink.

[daniellefso]

BLOG #1 (RDL 2)

SO, Danielle Francesca P.

GR. 12-E ABM

@kim1643philo

[yasujewels]

Jewel Desirose R. De Mayo // 12-J HUMSS @kim1643philo

BAMBOOZLE

Denotation: to deceive by underhanded method or to confuse or throw off thoroughly or completely

Connotation: typically means to deceive or get the better of someone in a cunning or dishonest way. It implies the sense of confusion or bewilderment caused by deception.

SERENDIPITY

Denotation: the occurrence of fortunate or unexpected events by chance, often leading to pleasant and beneficial outcomes.

Connotation: generally positive and carries a sense of happy coincidence, luck, or the discovery of something delightful unexpectedly. It often implies the feeling of joy or contentment associated with fortunate and unplanned events.

INKLING

Denotation: a slight or vague understanding of something.

Connotation: typically neutral or slightly positive. It suggests a sense of curiosity, anticipation, or a faint awareness about something, which can be intriguing or pique one's interest.

EPIPHANY

Denotation: a sudden, profound realization or insight, often accompanied by a sense of clarity or enlightenment.

Connotation: overwhelmingly positive. It carries the sense of transformative and enlightening experience where someone gains profound understandings or insight.

SASHAYING

Denotation: to walk or to move in an elegant, confident, and often exaggerated or flamboyant manner, typically characterized by graceful or swaying movements of the hips and body.

Connotation: generally positive and can imply a sense of confidence, elegance, or even a touch of playfulness.

[agwitow]

Not to romanticize words, but...

"Whispered" implies a secret. Something not meant to be shared. It could be threatening or angry. Scared or malicious. Hopeful or hurtful. It's a message meant for one.

"Said softly" implies comfort and revelation. A gentle word or tender promise. It could be calming or reassuring. Surprised or resigned. Full of awe or understanding. It is a message meant for someone dear.

I know adverbs are controversial, but "said softly" means something different than "whispered" and this is the hill I will die on.

[giorgiadigitalmedia]

Blog Post 4

Connotation and Denotation Exercise on "Affairs of the Art"

In his essay "Rhetoric of the Image" (in Image-Music-Text, 1977), Roland Barthes addresses the concepts of connotation (cultural or symbolic meaning) and denotation (literal meaning) by breaking down how images communicate meaning in a detailed semiotic analysis. Denotation, according to Barthes, refers to the literal and primary meaning of an image. It is the direct representation of what the image depicts, almost as if it were the purest reflection of reality, resulting in something completely neutral. However, this is not always true because the image maker always has to make choices on what to represent and how to do it... therefore losing complete neutrality. Connotation, on the other hand, refers to the secondary, culturally, or ideologically loaded meanings attached to an image. The connotative meaning is connected to the image's use of colors, composition, and symbols that rely on the audience's knowledge and experiences to be interpreted. Connotations are created by what Barthes calls "codes", which vary depending on the eyes that are studying the image. As a matter of fact, these cultural frameworks are created by viewers to make sense of the image that they are looking at (Barthes, 1957).

In this blog post, I will be exploring the connotative and denotative aspects of an animated piece called "Affairs of the Art" by Joanna Quinn and Les Mills.

Denotation:

This work of art is a 2D hand-drawn animation which talks about art, passions and obsessions. It is probably more accessible for an adult audience and it is set in modern times.

Connotation:

Right from the start we understand that the animation is going to be based on the concept of art and obsessions. We see a family who portrays different kinds of soft “addictions” (stuffed animals, insects, screws, trains, political parties, body modifications, rotting food, decaying bodies etc…). The protagonist, a 59-year old woman, has always been obsessed with art but has never tried actually developing that aspect of her life. She lives her whole life observing from a corner the weird older sister, who is not afraid to show her quirkiness and her peculiarities. She both fears and admires her. It seems that the “disturbed” genes come from their grandma who used to collect varieties of things.

Another interesting character is her son, who definitely shows some signs of autism in my opinion. He is precise, shows interest in very distinct things and doesn’t really know how to handle emotions, but he’s not afraid to show what he is and to embrace it. 

Being surrounded by all these free-spirited people in her life, the main character feels pressured to let her creativity loose and starts giving up. However, it takes a lot of courage to embrace her artistic “career” and she starts feeling doubtful about everything. Themes like nostalgia of the past, fear of missing out and anxiety for the future start appearing in the short. The movie also talks about the power of judgment and the struggle of not being able “to fit in” and be understood, even by someone very close to us. As a matter of fact, especially at the beginning, her husband doesn’t really get the whole idea behind the wife’s new obsession. Sure, he participates because forced to do so, but he sometimes makes her feel wrong and lets some unhappy thoughts shine through.

A few very interesting topics are being represented in the movie, besides the very obvious ones. First of all, the main character is a woman… which is never something to take for granted. Sure, it’s a modern animation produced by a woman, but I still appreciate the choice. Moreover, it talks about a woman in her late 50s who decides to turn her life upside down, which cannot be assumed and plausible in all contexts. Secondly, it is pretty explicit therefore not accessible for all audiences. Nudity is never displayed in a sexual way, in fact it seems to add more comedy and personality to the different personas. Lastly, the subject of death appears a couple of times during the whole storyline. First with the death of a little mouse, victim of the sister’s experiments, and second the grandma. It’s never easy to talk about something like this, yet I think the directors found a way to make it perceivable in a lighter and almost comic way.

Overall, I think the main theme gravitates around acceptance. If we think about it, it takes way less time for the protagonist to accept the quirkinesses of her family than embracing her own.

I particularly enjoyed this animation because it’s something different from the rest. Besides the amazing talent of the artist and the fact that it’s all hand-drawn, which adds even more value to it, it talks about very interesting and deep topics which are being discussed in today’s world. The fact that, because of the very rough-looking lines, it almost looks unfinished makes it even more appealing to me. From other interviews about the same work, I can tell that the artists didn’t care much about the form, as well as about the meaning behind it…although not in such a deep way. Sure, the themes that appear are serious and very contemporary, but they are being represented in a very comic way. As an animator, I believe it is always good to take a look at different examples and get inspiration…and well, this definitely inspired me!  

Reference list:

Barthes, R. (1977). Image, Music, Text. London: Fontana Press.

Barthes, R. (1957). Mythologies. New York: The Noonday Press.

The New Yorker (2021). 2022 Oscar-Nominated Short: ‘Affairs of the Art’ | The New Yorker Screening Room. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAX9_rDvO_c [Accessed 18 Aug. 2022].

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Connotation and Denotation

The philosophy of connotation and denotation deals with the ways in which words and expressions convey meaning. These concepts are central to semantics, the study of meaning in language, and are used to distinguish between the literal or direct meaning of a term (denotation) and the associated or implied meanings that the term evokes (connotation).

Key Concepts:

Denotation:

Literal or Primary Meaning: Denotation refers to the direct, explicit meaning of a word—the specific object, idea, or concept that the word points to. It is the "dictionary definition" of a term, the meaning that is universally understood and unambiguous.

Objective Reference: Denotation is concerned with the objective relationship between a word and what it refers to in the real world. For example, the word "rose" denotes a type of flower.

Connotation:

Associated or Implied Meanings: Connotation involves the secondary, associated meanings that a word carries in addition to its denotation. These meanings can be emotional, cultural, or contextual, and they often evoke certain feelings, associations, or images.

Subjective and Contextual: Unlike denotation, connotation is more subjective and can vary depending on the context, culture, or individual interpretation. For instance, the word "rose" may connote romance, beauty, or love.

Importance in Language and Communication:

Nuances of Meaning: Understanding the difference between denotation and connotation is crucial for grasping the full meaning of language. Words with the same denotation can have very different connotations, which can affect how they are perceived or interpreted.

Cultural and Emotional Significance: Connotations are heavily influenced by cultural context and can carry significant emotional weight. For example, the word "home" denotes a place of residence, but it may connote warmth, security, and family.

Examples in Language:

Positive and Negative Connotations: Words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations even when their denotations are similar. For example, "childlike" (positive connotation: innocence) vs. "childish" (negative connotation: immaturity).

Synonyms with Different Connotations: Consider the words "slim" and "skinny." Both denote a thin person, but "slim" often has a positive connotation (attractiveness), while "skinny" can have a negative connotation (underweight or unhealthy).

Philosophical Implications:

Meaning and Interpretation: Philosophers and linguists have explored how connotation and denotation affect meaning and communication. The distinction helps in understanding how language can influence thought, perception, and behavior.

Semiotics and Symbolism: The study of connotation and denotation is also relevant in semiotics, the study of signs and symbols. Denotation relates to the literal signified meaning, while connotation involves the symbolic or cultural meanings attached to a sign.

Applications in Literature and Rhetoric:

Literary Analysis: In literature, connotation plays a key role in the interpretation of texts, where the choice of words can convey deeper meanings and evoke emotions beyond their literal sense.

Rhetorical Strategies: Speakers and writers often choose words with specific connotations to persuade, influence, or evoke certain responses from their audience.

Challenges and Criticisms:

Ambiguity and Miscommunication: The connotative meanings of words can lead to ambiguity or miscommunication, especially in cross-cultural contexts where different connotations might be attached to the same word.

Evolving Meanings: Connotations can change over time as cultural and social contexts evolve, making it challenging to pin down the exact connotative meaning of a word across different eras or societies.

The philosophy of connotation and denotation provides a framework for understanding the complexities of meaning in language. While denotation gives us the direct, literal meaning of a word, connotation enriches language by adding layers of associated or implied meaning. This distinction is essential for effective communication, literary analysis, and the study of semantics and semiotics. Understanding how words can carry different connotations helps in interpreting language more fully and appreciating its nuanced impact on thought and culture.

[1introvertedsage]

There’s a real fine line with ‘obsession’ for me. Maybe it’s the connotations the word holds. If I’m honest, it makes my skin crawl a bit.

[elucubrare]

saw a poll about whether you prefer corruption or redemption arcs and i realized that for me it's not really either, it's a distillation arc: when a character becomes the most intense version of what they could be, everything inessential falling away or being discarded so that only the core remains.

[evvywevvy]

"5yo, I didn't say you can't, I just said, *why* do you want to take a plastic bag of wet ramen noodles upstairs?"

"why do *you* want to be a criminal?!?"

the stage of language development where she knows the rough connotation of words, but has no clue to the denotation, is odd

[lettuce-enjoyer2]

earlier today I had the sudden very strong desire to eat lettuce but then it went away after like two seconds. do you guys agree that the difference between client and customer is that clients are more likely to be getting a service and customers are getting goods

[saltymarshmall0w]

beatdown buddies

(You always read fics where the pit is instantly calmed by Danny’s presence, but what if it didn’t?)

Now, you have to understand, that Jason was long past attacking strangers in a blind fury. The Bats? Sure, all the time--- but he was working on that.

This particular scrawny, possibly-homeless stranger hadn’t done anything more than simply exist in Jason’s proximity. If it was any other Crime Alley resident, Jason would be much more likely feel a surge of protectiveness.

This guy though– he was different.

Locking toxic-green eyes to toxic-green eyes made the pit in his skin violently react. Before he knew it, he was hitting the guy with everything he had, and the guy was hitting back.

The groceries Jason had left his apartment to get spilled all over the ground as the two rolled.

Pulled hair, split knuckles, and bruised bodies, the guy’s fist hit Jason’s jaw for the umpteenth time, cracking his head back and making him look at the gloomy sky.

They only used their fists. Jason could feel the familiar ghost of weapons hidden under the other guy’s hoodie, but neither pulled their hidden weapons.

Despite it all, Jason and the guy shared blood-tinged smiles. Blood boiled under his skin in an exciting trill. He was angry, and it was fantastic.

He’s pretty sure he just made a new best friend.

Someone hit Jason’s back with what could distinctly be identified as a broom. He vaguely heard the sound of yelling around him, but Jason’s only focus was getting his next hit in.

Eventually, they were stopped by a familiar shade of blue and black. Strong arms pulled him off the stranger and pinned his arms down, locking their arms over his chest to prevent Jason from getting free.

“You need to calm down!” Dickwing’s voice lectured in his ear. “You’re going to kill him!”

Surprisingly, Jason settled in Dick’s hold, fight and anger drained out of him in the space of a breath. The fire under his skin didn’t keep flaming and flaming and building it just– stopped.

“Oh, Please.” The stranger was grinning widely, despite the model of developing bruises and cuts across his face. A burly man who Jason vaguely recognized worked at the store they were standing right in front of was both holding up and holding back the guy. “We were just saying ‘Hi’.”

The guy made eye contact with Jason. Blue, no hints of green anywhere. The guy winked. “Danny.”

Frankly, Jason couldn’t quite explain his actions. He felt stupidly chastized by Nightwing’s patented older brother stare of disappointment. Apparently, the guy couldn’t explain his actions either, as he disappeared the instant no one’s eyes were on him.

-

Jason arrived an hour early to Wayne Sunday family dinner. He missed cooking alongside Alfred, and offered his help.

He let Dick wrap an arm around his shoulder for a few seconds as a welcome. He didn’t seethe at Bruce simply being there. He chose to sit between Tim and the Demon brat when it looked like new fratricide plans were being drawn up by the younger.

The pit didn’t scream under his skin to hurt. Little things didn’t set him off, making him have to leave early. He wasn’t tempted to throttle anyone for existing around him.

The pit was just… quiet. Peaceful even. Well, as peaceful as it could get in the Wayne household.

It was a massive improvement compared to six months ago— hell, compared to last month.

He shrugged off inquiries about his black eye, citing it would heal quickly anyway.

-

Jason should have known he wasn’t safe.

Sure, he was on a roof one could only grapple to, across the city from crime alley, and dressed up as Red Hood.

However, Danny always reappeared periodically like a well-timed extremely therapeutic punching bag.

One moment, Jason was looking down over the streets of Gotham the next, he was being flying-kicked by a lithe frame. Something instantly recognized Danny so, rather the putting a bullet in him, Jason picked himself back up into a crouch and lunged at Danny.

“Hood? Hood what’s going on?” Someone called in his ear— Oh, right he had connected comms with his family that night.

Danny stopped suddenly, straddling Jason’s stomach, one hand fisting his collar, the other posed to strike. He blinked. glowing green eyes turned blue. “You’re not like, busy doing vigilante stuff, are you?” He asked.

Every bruise and cut from their last fight was gone, his baby face appeared as though it had never been punched in his life, making him look all the more punchable.

“Nope.” Jason answered, driving an elbow into the kid’s stomach and in the same motion ripped the comm out of his ear to toss it to the side.

Minutes later Danny was pulled off him, and the fire under his skin died down.

He blinked back into his surroundings to find himself on a rooftop with half of Gotham’s vigilantes standing in a circle around him, an unease that he could only read because he was so familiar with them written in all of their body languages. Batman held Danny slightly behind himself, keeping a firm grasp on the guy so he couldn’t escape.

“You claimed the rage was getting better.” Bruce stated in the way that meant he was supposed to answer his unasked questions..

Jason waited for rage and indignance to rise up in him, but rather he just considered that Bruce saw glowing green eyes and a brutal beat down and made a logical leap.

“It has!” Jason argued anyway. He sniffed and ran a hand under his slightly bleeding nose. It didn’t sting enough to be broken. “I haven’t lost my cool in months.”

“That’s what he has me for!” Danny chimed happily. His nose was broken, but Danny didn’t seem to mind the twin streaks of blood running down his face. “We’re friends with Benefits. It’s always healthy to have a little dead-guy on dead-guy action. You guys should really fight with him more often, his ectoplasm is rank.”

[picatchu]