Connotation

The term connotation ( from the Latin prefix con -, " with ", " together ", and notations, "note" ) is an ambiguous expression, especially of logic and linguistics.

In logic, it denotes the conceptual content, in linguistics, the connotation.

Connotation in the sense of conceptual content

The term connotation means additional connotations in the logic. Antonym is the denotation.

After Gottlob Frege connotation means the intensional reference - the content or intension of a term - as opposed to its extension.

According to John Stuart Mill is a word " connotative " (cf. English connotative " connotative " ) " except when an object referred to one of its properties; it is non- connotative [ ... ] if it only refers to an object or a property alone. "

Connotation within the meaning of connotation

Term

In linguistics, specifically in the semantics, connotation is the secondary meaning of a linguistic expression. The focus of the observation is usually the connotation of single words. But you can also " word, sentence or describe Textkonnotationen ". In the word semantic connotation refers to the additional mental structure that the main meaning ( denotation, the denotation ) accompanied a word and stylistic, emotional, affective word meaning components contains - that is, what consciously or unconsciously still resonates with the use of a term.

Connotation is sometimes distinguished from a mere association that does not belong in contrast to the connotation to the actual meaning, however, should be regarded as the reasons (s). Thus the word dog, has a negative connotation in comparison to dog. The thought of fleas in dogs is only an association. Correct also appears the distinction between conventionalized and purely individual connotation.

Antonym of connotation is the denotation. Feature theory, a distinction is accordingly in the semantic features connotative characteristics of denotative characteristics.

Dependencies

Cultural dependence

Connotations of the same word may differ depending on the speaker, speaker groups and culture.

Through an originally neutral term quasi " insidious " attributed Beibedeutungen over times and cultures, it can lead to a change of meaning and the meaning reversal, such as the terms regime and wife.

A method by which the connotations can be explored that connects a group of subjects with any word or with another stimulus, the semantic differential. In this method, subjects are asked to tick a word ( stimulus) on a scale of counter- terms, how much of it applies a predetermined scale property. For example, the word "mother " on scales such as " great ... small", " strong ... weak" are classified. We worked with a group of people trying a number of these scales for a word or other stimuli such as professional groups, one obtains an average rating that then allows comparisons between different groups of people.

Individual differences

Connotations are not only characteristic of groups of people. Due to different life experiences, the personal connotations can be very different in certain expressions. Those who have grown about under the care of a loving mother who has the word " mother " probably other connotations as someone whose mother has abused her child.

Examples

• Different connotations are a way to distinguish synonyms (or one reason why there is no " real" are synonyms ). So share the words " quack ", " Uncle Doctor " and " demi-god in white" all the denotation of " doctor ", but differ by the connotations ( " good for nothing ", " family relationship ", " can do everything, or believes that at least ").
• Much Quoted is the utterance of A rose is a rose is a rose of Gertrude Stein, is alluded to by the different connotations of the term. "Actually," the rose is only an ornamental plant, resonant meanings are here love, fragrance, transience and various political meanings and pain through the " mitgedachten " spines.
• Proper names are not connotative usually because they describe only individuals, but not their properties. Exceptions are proper names of important places, persons, or other issues, the connotations can get, for example, Mallorca, Hitler, Kevin and Hiroshima.