The English Language and Etymology: Double Meanings

Late Modern English (1700 - Present)

After learning about the changes that the English language went through in previous modules, we finally arrive at Late Modern English -- this is the English we speak today
- During this time period, English spread worldwide due to British colonization
- New words come from science, technology, and global trade.
- Different dialects develop, like British, American, and Australian English.

Double Meanings: Homonyms and Homophones

You will run into words that have multiple meanings
- Homonyms
  - Words that have the same spelling but different meanings
    - Example: He swung the bat/The bat flew out of the cave.
- Homophones
  - Words that have the same pronunciation but different spellings
    - Example: To/Too/Two
A word that sounds exactly the same as another word can have a completely different meaning
- Example: It is much different to wait on someone who is late for a date than to measure someone's weight on a scale
  - Pay attention to how words are used in a sentence (using context clues)
There are many words in the English language that can be used as a noun in one instance and an adjective in another.
- Example: Forte
  - - As an adjective: Loud
      - The music teacher begged her students to play the chorus forte because it was the focus of the entire song.
    - As a noun: Person's Strong Suit
      - I don't know what her forte is, but it is definitely not music.
- As you can see, the same word can be used as different parts of speech, so you will want to determine the meanings of words and phrases in context by analyzing the function of parts of speech
  - It is not only necessary to know the definitions and meanings of words but also HOW they are being used in the sentence
  - Knowing which word or phrase to use or how to write a phrase correctly can make a big difference in your writing

Commonly Confused Words

Look at the following homonyms and the way they are used in the examples provided.

Double Meanings: Connotation and Denotation

There are also other kinds of words that have double meanings
Connotation
- The implied or emotional meaning of a word
Denotation
- The literal or dictionary definition of a word
- Cheap vs. Inexpensive
- Example: Cheap
  - Connotation
    - Negative connotation - low quality/poorly made
  - Denotation
    - Does not cost a lot of money
- Example: Inexpensive
  - Connotation
    - Positive connotation - a good deal/affordable
  - Denotation
    - Inexpensive
When choosing a word to use in a sentence, make sure that you understand both the denotation and the connotation
- Choosing the right word affects the tone in your writing
  - Using the example above, imagine that you used "cheap" when you meant to use "inexpensive"

Practice: Connotation and Denotation

Part 1: Read the sentences below and determine the denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (emotional or implied meaning) of the bolded words.

1. The old mansion looked gloomy under the dark sky.

Denotation:
Connotation: (Positive, Neutral, or Negative?):

2. Sarah was feeling confident before her big presentation.

Denotation:
Connotation: (Positive, Neutral, or Negative?):

3. The restaurant was cheap, so we decided to eat somewhere else.

Denotation:
Connotation: (Positive, Neutral, or Negative?):

Part 2: Pick the word that best matches the intended tone of the sentence.

1. I love my grandmother’s cooking because it always tastes (homey / sloppy).
2. The politician was known for being (stubborn / determined) in fighting for justice.
3. The abandoned house looked (ancient / rundown) after years of neglect.
4. My little brother is so (childish / youthful) when he plays outside.

Part 3: Change the bolded word in each sentence to a word with a different connotation while keeping the denotation the same.

1. The bossy teacher gave instructions to the students.

(Change "bossy" to sound more positive)

2. The dress she wore looked old.

(Make it sound more elegant)

3. The company fired several employees last week.

(Use a more neutral word)

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