Levels of Meaning in Language
Levels of
M
eaning
Presented by : Ayat Amer Abdl -Sattar
Denotation versus connotation
Any sign can produce two kinds of meaning:
denotative and connotative.
The denotative meaning is
the literal (direct) meaning
that can be understood via a
direct and clear relationship
between the sign and the
thing it refers to.
The connotative meaning is
that meaning which comes
into existence as a result of
an interaction between the
sign and the user’s context.
For
example
:
ناصرية
D
e
n
o
t
a
t
i
v
e
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
:
N
a
s
i
r
r
i
y
y
a
i
s
a
c
i
t
y
i
n
t
h
e
s
o
u
t
h
o
f
I
r
a
q
.
C
o
n
n
o
t
a
t
i
v
e
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
:
I
t
r
e
f
e
r
s
t
o
w
i
c
k
e
d
p
e
o
p
l
e
o
r
s
o
m
e
t
i
m
e
s
t
o
a
w
i
c
k
e
d
s
e
n
s
e
o
f
h
u
m
o
u
r
.
يُغنّي
D
e
n
o
t
a
t
i
v
e
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
:
I
t
i
s
f
r
o
m
t
h
e
v
e
r
b
t
o
s
i
n
g
;
t
h
e
y
s
a
y
:
h
e
i
s
s
i
n
g
i
n
g
.
C
o
n
n
o
t
a
t
i
v
e
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
:
T
o
e
x
a
g
g
e
r
a
t
e
.
Connotation: Different overtones
❖
Connotation “refers to the personal aspects of
meaning, the emotional associations that the word
arouses”.
There are six types of connotative meaning as follows:
A
t
t
i
t
u
d
i
n
a
l
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
:
It refers to the attitude that the language user has according to his/her
socio-cultural experiences.
For example:
يشرب أو يتناول( الخمر)
يحتسي الخمر
يبلبع أو يتسمّم
Associative meaning is that part of meaning that has to do
with the stereotypical images that have been conjured up
in the mind of the language user towards the lexical items
used.
Associative meaning
When Arab interpreters/translators hear/read the English word secretary,
they automatically associate it with the idea of female gender, thus
rendering it into
سكرتيرة
(
i.e., female secretary).
A
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
Affective meaning refers to that part of meaning that reflects the choice
of lexical items resorted to by the language user and their effect on the
addressee.
ما أريد أشوف وجهك في المكتب.
I don’t want to see your face in the office.
اُخرجْ من المكتب.
Go out of the office.
من فضلك، ممكن تغادر المكتب؟
If you don’t mind, is it possible to leave the office?
Allusive meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring
expression in addition to its denotative meaning by virtue of intertextuality.
Allusive meaning
the following example quoted from Mahfouz’s novel
بداية ونهاية
(The Beginning and the
End) may be considered here:
معذرة يا بني إن بعض الظن إثم.
Here, the writer opts for building intertextual relation with a Quranic verse
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اجتنبوا كثيرا من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم.
Collocative meaning
Collocative meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring expression in addition
to its denotative meaning by virtue of the meaning of other words that collocate well with it, thus
forming commonly used expressions.
For example:
.
ليل نهار
Day and night.
أبيض وأسود
Black and white
R
e
f
l
e
c
t
e
d
m
e
a
n
i
n
g
Reflected meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring expression in a
certain context in addition, of course, to its basic, straightforward meaning.
Consider, for instance, the word
حِمار
in Arabic. The word
حِمار ,
in addition to its denotative
meaning that refers to an animal like a small horse with long ears in the real world and it is
used to describe people’s stupidity in the Arab culture.
Stylistic meaning
Stylistic meaning is that part of meaning that distinguishes referring expressions from one
another in terms of their degree of formality, their literary status, their degree of politeness and
euphemism, and so on.
س
ق
ط
،
ر
س
ب
،
أ
خ
ف
ق
،
ل
م
ي
ح
ا
ل
ف
ه
ا
ل
ح
ظ
All of them share the same core denotative meaning of to fail.
They differ in their stylistic meaning (connotation).
س
ق
ط
i
n
f
o
r
m
a
l
,
a
n
d
h
a
v
i
n
g
n
o
l
i
t
e
r
a
r
y
s
t
a
t
u
s
.
ر
س
ب
s
t
a
n
d
a
r
d
,
f
o
r
m
a
l
,
a
n
d
n
e
u
t
r
a
l
.
أ
خ
ف
ق
s
t
a
n
d
a
r
d
,
f
o
r
m
a
l
,
n
e
u
t
r
a
l
,
a
n
d
h
a
v
i
n
g
l
i
t
e
r
a
r
y
s
t
a
t
u
s
.
ل
م
ي
ح
ا
ل
ف
ه
ا
ل
ح
ظ
:
s
t
a
n
d
a
r
d
,
f
o
r
m
a
l
,
a
n
d
h
a
v
i
n
g
b
o
t
h
l
i
t
e
r
a
r
y
s
t
a
t
u
s
a
n
d
euphemism.
The most common definition of “semiotics” is that it is the
study of Signs.
Or it is the study of signs, signification and
signifying systems.
semiotics
The subject of semiotics is divided into three main areas:
•
t
h
e
“
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.
•
t
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e
“
c
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s
”
i
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a
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.
•
t
h
e
“
c
u
l
t
u
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e
”
w
i
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w
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c
o
d
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s
a
n
d
s
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g
n
s
o
p
e
r
a
t
e
.
Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes
According to de Saussure, there are two ways in which signs
are organized into codes
( axes)
: syntagmatic and paradigmatic.
The vertical axis is paradigmatic and the horizontal one is
syntagmatic.
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d
s
i
g
n
s
.
Paradigmatic and
syntagmatic axes
S
t
:
Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfilment of God’s decree to dress
modestly.
T
T
:
المرأة المسلمة ملزمة بلبس الحجاب استجابةً لأمر الله بالاحتشام.
As stated above, a paradigm is a set of signs from which the one used is chosen. To elaborate,
in the original text, the sign wear in simple aspect is chosen from a set of possible signs, such
as can wear, must wear, should wear, need to wear, and so on.
A syntagm, on the other hand, is the linear arrangement into which the signs, which are
chosen from paradigms, are combined.
M
u
s
l
i
m
–
w
o
m
e
n
–
w
e
a
r
–
t
h
e
h
e
a
d
-
c
o
v
e
r
i
n
g
(
h
i
j
a
b
)
–
i
n
f
u
l
f
i
l
m
e
n
t
o
f
–
G
o
d
–
’
s
–
d
e
c
r
e
e
–
t
o
–
d
r
e
s
s
–
m
o
d
e
s
t
l
y
Are combined to formulate the syntagm:
M
u
s
l
i
m
w
o
m
e
n
w
e
a
r
t
h
e
h
e
a
d
-
c
o
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i
n
g
(
h
i
j
a
b
)
i
n
f
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f
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o
f
G
o
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’
s
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d
r
e
s
s
m
o
d
e
s
t
l
y
.
Any change in these
two axes will
undoubtedly create a
different mental image.
Thanks!
Explore the concept of denotation versus connotation and delve into the various types of connotative meanings including attitudinal, associative, affective, and allusive meanings presented by Ayat Amer AbdI.-Sattar. Discover how words can carry multiple layers of meaning beyond their literal interpretation.
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Presentation Transcript
Levels of Meaning Presented by : Ayat Amer Abdl -Sattar
Denotation versus connotation Any sign can produce two kinds of meaning: denotative and connotative. The denotative meaning is the literal (direct) meaning that can be understood via a direct and clear relationship between the sign and the thing it refers to. The connotative meaning is that meaning which comes into existence as a result of an interaction between the sign and the user s context.
For example: Denotative meaning: Nasirriyya is a city in the south of Iraq. meaning: It refers to wicked people or Connotative sometimes to a wicked sense of humour. Denotative meaning: It is from the verb to sing; they say: he is singing. Connotative meaning: To exaggerate.
Connotation: Different overtones Connotation refers to the personal aspects of meaning, the emotional associations that the word arouses . There are six types of connotative meaning as follows:
Attitudinal meaning: It refers to the attitude that the language user has according to his/her socio-cultural experiences. For example: ) (
Associative meaning Associative meaning is that part of meaning that has to do with the stereotypical images that have been conjured up in the mind of the language user towards the lexical items used. When Arab interpreters/translators hear/read the English word secretary, they automatically associate it with the idea of female gender, thus rendering it into ( i.e., female secretary).
Affective meaning Affective meaning refers to that part of meaning that reflects the choice of lexical items resorted to by the language user and their effect on the addressee. . I don t want to see your face in the office. . Go out of the office. If you don t mind, is it possible to leave the office?
Allusive meaning Allusive meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring expression in addition to its denotative meaning by virtue of intertextuality. the following example quoted from Mahfouz s novel (The Beginning and the End) may be considered here: . Here, the writer opts for building intertextual relation with a Quranic verse .
Collocative meaning Collocative meaning Collocative meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring expression in addition to its denotative meaning by virtue of the meaning of other words that collocate well with it, thus forming commonly used expressions. For example: . Day and night. Black and white
Reflected meaning Reflected meaning is that part of meaning that is attached to a referring expression in a certain context in addition, of course, to its basic, straightforward meaning. Consider, for instance, the word in Arabic. The word meaning that refers to an animal like a small horse with long ears in the real world and it is used to describe people s stupidity in the Arab culture. in addition to its denotative ,
Stylistic meaning Stylistic meaning is that part of meaning that distinguishes referring expressions from one another in terms of their degree of formality, their literary status, their degree of politeness and euphemism, and so on. All of them share the same core denotative meaning of to fail. They differ in their stylistic meaning (connotation). informal, and having no literary status. standard, formal, and neutral. standard, formal, neutral, and having literary status. : standard, formal, and having both literary status and euphemism.
semiotics The most common definition of semiotics is that it is the study of Signs. Or it is the study of signs, signification and signifying systems. The subject of semiotics is divided into three main areas: the sign itself, that is, the study of signs and their different varieties in different contexts. the codes into which signs are constructed and organized. the culture within which these codes and signs operate.
Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes According to de Saussure, there are two ways in which signs are organized into codes( axes) : syntagmatic and paradigmatic. The vertical axis is paradigmatic and the horizontal one is syntagmatic. Paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes paradigms focus on the selection of some signs and the exclusion of others. syntagms focus on the combination of the selected signs.
St: Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfilment of God s decree to dress modestly. TT: . As stated above, a paradigm is a set of signs from which the one used is chosen. To elaborate, in the original text, the sign wear in simple aspect is chosen from a set of possible signs, such as can wear, must wear, should wear, need to wear, and so on.
A syntagm, on the other hand, is the linear arrangement into which the signs, which are chosen from paradigms, are combined. Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfilment of God s decree to dress modestly Are combined to formulate the syntagm: Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfilment of God s decree to dress modestly. Any change in these two axes will undoubtedly create a different mental image.
