Words with Positive and Negative Connotation

Words with Positive and Negative Connotation" “So if you’re feeling a bit stingy (stin-jee), and want a chance to own this peculiar product... call the number on your screen RIGHT NOW!” “Koko, I don’t get it no one is buying any.” "CUT!" “What is it you want them to know about the machine?” “That it is a good deal and a unique product.” Looks like Pip isn’t having much luck selling the Ultimate Dessert Maker. His description isn’t making anyone want to buy his product. When trying to express our ideas and feelings, word choice is very important. Let's think about Pip's word choice. Words have two types of meaning. One type is called denotation which is the exact definition of a word you would find in a dictionary. The other is called CONNOTATION, which is the feeling or mood created by a word. Connotation can be positive or negative, meaning we get a positive or negative feeling about the subject when hearing the words. Let's think about Pip's word choices. Pip said, “if you’re feeling STINGY, and want a chance to own this PECULIAR product.” The denotation of the word stingy means someone who is unwilling to spend a lot of money but, it has negative connotations because it brings about negative feelings of someone being who is unwilling to share with others. Pip called his product peculiar. The denotation, or definition, of peculiar, is something that is different from others... but the negative connotation, the feelings the word brings, is that of something being strange or odd. No wonder no one was buying the machine! Pip is trying to SELL his Ultimate Dessert Maker, so he should use words like these…if you’re feeling thrifty, and want to own this one-of-a-kind product, call the number on your screen, RIGHT NOW. These words have a similar denotation as the ones Pip used before, but the connotation gives a positive message that the person is resourceful with their money and the product is special. When you want to express your feelings and ideas precisely, you need to pay close attention to the connotation of your words. Let’s practice using connotations to convey ideas. Read this sentence… and fill in the word that has the more positive connotation if you are wanting to convey the message that the machine is well built. Which word best fits... indestructible or hefty? We would say, this is an indestructible machine. Even though both words mean strong, hefty gives the feeling that it would be too heavy to manage... and indestructible creates the idea that the machine will not break. Read this sentence… which word fits best... cheap or inexpensive? We would say, that this machine is really inexpensive. Both words mean not costing a lot of money, but cheap gives the feeling that the product is not well made. Inexpensive creates the feeling that you are saving a lot of money by buying it. Finally, read this sentence. Which word gives the best connotation about the dessert... delicious or satisfying? We would say, you can make this delicious dessert yourself. Although the word satisfying isn't a negative feeling, it isn't as strong as the mood created by the word delicious. While Pip gets ready to go back on the air, let's review. Remember… words have two types of meaning… denotation, the exact definition of a word… and connotation, the feeling or mood created by using specific words. Connotations help us to convey ideas clearly when communicating with others. "Three, two, one." "This magnificent machine makes the most delectable, mouthwatering desserts at an affordable price!" "Call now to own this one-of-a-kind product!"