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Positive & Negative Connotations
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Total Votes : 7

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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:50 pm    Post subject: Positive & Negative Connotations Reply with quote

Hey guys,

I am developing a presentation/exercise for my students. See, I am teaching them writing and would like to explore positive and negative conntations in both writing and speaking. So, I hope you guys can help me out with some examples. For those that do, I'll be more than happy to provide you with the final presentation for free. All I need is for you to contribute one thing such as what I have written below.

Positive Connotation
His home is down the street.

Negative Connotation
His shack is down the street.

or

Positive Connotation
Famous - He is famous.

Negative Connotation
Infamous - He is infamous.

IF you could follow the above format when contributing, it'd be great! I need to compelete this in the next few hours. I need roughly 10 examples.
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pusky



Joined: 03 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That example isn't really a good representation of connotation because their definitions are different.

Something like this is what I would put. (depending on their level)

Insinuate - negative connotation

Hint/Suggest - positive/neutral connotation
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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pusky wrote:
That example isn't really a good representation of connotation because their definitions are different.

Something like this is what I would put. (depending on their level)

Insinuate - negative connotation

Hint/Suggest - positive/neutral connotation


Hi Pusky,

I want the students to learn how to choose words correctly, given the context of a conversation. If I were to say to you that you live in a shack, then the connotation would be negative as the word "shack" is being used to describe your home. That's what I meant in my examples.
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Demophobe



Joined: 17 May 2004

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

CL, this sounds like implicature and sematics, which would actually make it intension. There are many examples out there, just Google the above terms.
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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Demophobe wrote:
CL, this sounds like implicature and sematics, which would actually make it intension. There are many examples out there, just Google the above terms.


Yeah, I know, but I want the focus to be not on what is implied, but on the sound of what they say/write. Meh, nevermind. I'll do it myself. Very Happy
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The Gipkik



Joined: 30 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

+ She picked up the book from the teacher's desk.
- She grabbed the book from the teacher's desk.

+ They giggled when they saw her come in.
- They sniggered when they saw her come in.

+ He grinned at her.
- He leered at her.

+ His coach patted him on the head.
- His coach smacked him on the head.
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

+ She picked up the book from the teacher's desk.
- She grabbed the book from the teacher's desk.

+ They giggled when they saw her come in.
- They sniggered when they saw her come in.

+ He grinned at her.
- He leered at her.

+ His coach patted him on the head.
- His coach smacked him on the head.


I grabbed something to eat

it means quick, doesn't really have a meaning of good or bad to me. Same with grabbing a book.

in context it might be used negatively.
"That guy just grabbed my wallet!"

laughing at someone regardless of the word has a negative meaning to me.

I agree with the other two
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cubanlord wrote:
Demophobe wrote:
CL, this sounds like implicature and sematics, which would actually make it intension. There are many examples out there, just Google the above terms.


Yeah, I know, but I want the focus to be not on what is implied, but on the sound of what they say/write. Meh, nevermind. I'll do it myself. Very Happy


You're talking about euphemisms and pejoratives. Collateral damage vs murdering civilians kinda stuff. Google those two terms and you'll have to look no further.
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pusky



Joined: 03 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cubanlord wrote:
pusky wrote:
That example isn't really a good representation of connotation because their definitions are different.

Something like this is what I would put. (depending on their level)

Insinuate - negative connotation

Hint/Suggest - positive/neutral connotation


Hi Pusky,

I want the students to learn how to choose words correctly, given the context of a conversation. If I were to say to you that you live in a shack, then the connotation would be negative as the word "shack" is being used to describe your home. That's what I meant in my examples.


Yeah but a shack is not a home, it is a small cheap structure that you store tools in or very impoverished people live in. Living in a shack is bad because it is not intended for human occupancy but the term shack does not not really have a negative connotation. Just as the words "cardboard box" has no negative connotation it is still a bad place to live.
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pusky wrote:
Yeah but a shack is not a home, it is a small cheap structure that you store tools in or very impoverished people live in. Living in a shack is bad because it is not intended for human occupancy but the term shack does not not really have a negative connotation. Just as the words "cardboard box" has no negative connotation it is still a bad place to live.


The word shack might very well be used as a pejorative term for someones home, it depends on the context in which the word is used.
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The Gipkik



Joined: 30 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

crossmr wrote:


I agree with the other two


LOL, that was a quick critique! I think a case for grab and teacher's desk can be made, but yes, it would need a more detailed context. Giggle is a pretty neutral word, but snigger has a more pejorative sense. Here's another that is popular with my students:
+ He placed the book on his desk. OR He dropped the book on his desk.
- He slammed the book on his desk.

Happens all the time.
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andrewchon



Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

he walks leisurely/ slowly
Thierry Henry has killer instinct/is a cheat
ETRyan dances aggressively/sleazily
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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
cubanlord wrote:
Demophobe wrote:
CL, this sounds like implicature and sematics, which would actually make it intension. There are many examples out there, just Google the above terms.


Yeah, I know, but I want the focus to be not on what is implied, but on the sound of what they say/write. Meh, nevermind. I'll do it myself. Very Happy


You're talking about euphemisms and pejoratives. Collateral damage vs murdering civilians kinda stuff. Google those two terms and you'll have to look no further.


Thiuda,

Thanks, I couldn't get the word out of my mouth. I am looking for pejoratives, not euphemisms. Although, I may incoporate some of those as well.

So, anyone with any kind of word, phrase, or sentence that may have a pejorative connotation, please, throw them out.
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cubanlord



Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got some good ones that aren't too difficult.

difficult (negative) ------- challenging (positive)
stingy (negative) -------- economical (positive)
headstrong (negative) --- determined (positive)
nitpicking (negative) ----- meticulous (positive)
astute (negative) -------- sagacious (positive)
childish (negative) ------- childlike (positive)
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cubanlord wrote:
I've got some good ones that aren't too difficult.

difficult (negative) ------- challenging (positive)
stingy (negative) -------- economical (positive)
headstrong (negative) --- determined (positive)
nitpicking (negative) ----- meticulous (positive)
astute (negative) -------- sagacious (positive)
childish (negative) ------- childlike (positive)


Hey, I'm headstrong. I always thought that was a nice way of saying stubborn. I'd also say that the word astute carried positive connotations, as in "He is an astute observer of the world."

a freak (negative) -> an eccentric (neutral) -> a (colourful) character (positive)
a drone (negative) -> a teamplayer (positive)
an overbearing personality (negative) -> a born leader (positive)
a know-it-all (negative) -> an opinionated individual (neutral) -> an educated person (positive)
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