You may have used it at some time but never realized what denotative language was. Today we want to explain to you what denotative language is, what its characteristics are and that above all, you can understand it better thanks to some examples that we are going to explain to you.
If you have doubts about the denotative language, do not lose detail of everything that we are going to comment on next because in this way, from now on you can have more idea about this topic.
Denotative language
When we speak of denotative language we are not referring to the one used to be able to refer to things objectively. Speak without any interpretation in any way, without subjective elements.
It is through denotative language when you have precise and literal definitions of words, in the same way that they can be found in a dictionary. Therefore, when denotation is attached, it has to do with the explicit meaning of a word.
It is the literal and explicit meaning of the words, so any other meaning is ruled out either by association or because it has been interpreted for a long time.
To understand it better
To understand it better, we are going to use the word "Hollywood" as an example. This word in denotative language is a place in Los Angeles that is known as the greatest center of cinema in the entire United States. Other meanings are not taken into account which can have the word as: actors, celebrities, etc.
Etymology
If we speak from the etymology, the word denote comes from the Latin “denotare” which is translated by “point” or “indicate”. At the same time, the word is composed of “de” (completely) and “notare” (mark).
On the other hand, denotative language is known as denotative meaning as well. This is important because we are talking about an objective meaning, literal. It is also known as:
- Cognitive meaning
- Conceptual meaning
- Conceptual meaning
Features
In this section we are going to explain some of the most important characteristics to take into account in order to better understand what denotative language is and its use on a day-to-day basis:
- Intention. Your intention is to communicate concisely. No literary devices of any kind are used. It refers to something as a direct concept, that is, it names it; denotes it. The opposite of denotative language is connotative language.
- Ambit. This type of language is common in everyday language among people. You can also find it in non-literary texts or in any informative process.
- Emphasis. The maximum importance is in the meaning, in the ideas that you want to capture. There is no creativity in the words that are used.
- Objectivity. It is clear and objective language. Both the sender and the receiver interpret it in the same way. There is no type of subjectivity in what you want to convey.
- Coexistence. Denotative language coexists with connotative language. Both are complementary in terms of the intention of communication. Denotative language provides understanding and clarity, and connotative language provides sensory references.
- Validity. It hardly undergoes modifications over the years, it can always have the same denotative meaning but the connotation changes with social evolution over time.
Examples of denotative language
- He recognized the smell of his grandmother's food.
- Vegetables are cheaper than meat.
- Julia's interest in interior decoration has become her job.
- Aunt Lucia lives in the cabin at the top of that mountain.
- As I was hungry, I stopped to eat at a restaurant near the beach.
- His parents are Catholic people.
- My computer no longer works, it has been broken.
- Luis entered his lawyer's office very angry.
- My son has been intimidated by you.
- Don't ever speak to me in a hostile way.
- He went to the beach and lay down on the mat to sleep.
- Pedro is an adventurous person.
- The rancher is herding all the young sheep.
- Marcos has a pet and keeps it in a cage.
- Estefanía did not take her jacket this morning and now she is cold on the walk.
- Maria has come home for Christmas.
- Her dress was totally blue.
- I have taken my dog for a walk.
- I have taken my cat to the vet because he is sick.
- Marta felt sad after hearing the news.
- We have bought a house in the upper part of town.
- Today its a sunny day.
- The room is nice and has a lot of light thanks to its large windows.
- It's cold this afternoon.
- In summer it is hot.
- He picked up the stone and threw it into the river.
- My aunt had surgery on her hip last month.
- The boy ran across the yard very fast.
Examples of denotation in literature
Below are several examples from the literature illustrating the difference between denotative and connotative meanings behind words.
Robert Frost's "Mending Wall"
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And put the wall between us once more.
In this poem, "wall" denotes a literal wall, but it is also a symbol of an emotional barrier between two people.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Mother," said little Pearl, "the sun does not love you. He runs away and hides, because he is afraid of something in your chest. . . . He won't run away from me, because I'm not wearing anything on my chest yet! "
Here, "something on your chest" denotes the letter "A" for "adulterer" that Hester has been forced to wear on her chest. In a figurative sense, however, it also refers to the shame that Puritan society forces women to feel for their sexuality.
Why is denotation important?
When reading, it is important to stop and look for any word that is not clear to you, because if the denotation of a word is not understood, it will be difficult to follow the superficial meaning of the text. If you can't understand it at that level, you could miss out on important symbols and connotations that give a deeper meaning to a particular piece of writing or message.