20 Examples of Denotative Language

Denotative Language

The denotative language It is one that strictly conforms to the reality known to the speakers. For example: The water boils at 100 ° C.

Denotative language is used to express things as they are so that they can be understood simply and clearly, without the intention of generating symbolism or meta-messages.

This language is generally used in non-literary fields, such as the informative (newspapers, radio, oral communication), the academic or the professional.

When someone expresses himself using denotative language, the possibility of double reading is canceled, since the message is univocal.

The adjective denotative is related to the verb denote, which means "indicate, announce, signify." This verb is opposed to the verb connote, that refers to words or expressions that, in addition to their own or specific meaning, carry another type of expressive value.

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Examples of denotative language

1. The show starts at 9:00 p.m.
2. I'll buy the blue car I showed you yesterday.
3. The task consists of answering the five questions of the questionnaire delivered.
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4. The unionists called for a 48-hour strike for next Thursday.
5. Super gasoline increased 4%.
6. Open vowels are 'a', 'e' and 'o'; the closed ones, 'i' and 'u'.
7. I work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
8. Closed for vacations.
9. I don't know that man.
10. I need a white sheet.
11. My uncle lives in Río Negro.
12. There was a car crash in San Juan and Independencia.
13. This radio runs on batteries or electricity.
14. Suspended credit cards.
15. The match ended 3-1.
16. I got a ticket for the 1:20 pm train.
17. The water boils at 100 ° C.
18. The gas operator said there is a leak.
19. It rained 50mm in a single afternoon.
20. Soy is a plant native to China.

Denotative and connotative language

In denotative language, the explicit meaning of the words prevails, “the one that appears in the dictionaries ”, while in connotative language its figurative or suggested values ​​prevail, even the symbolic ones.

The denotation is more "indicative", while the connotation is more "evocative". The denotative value only involves the knowledge of the meaning-signifier link that the speaker has on the basis of her linguistic competences; many other psychosocial elements intervene in the connotative, mostly based on the experiences gathered in relation to the world.

For example, in denotative language a word like "dog" simply refers to the mammalian animal of the canine family, but many people, when hearing the The word "dog" can evoke associated values ​​added in use, such as companionship, friendship, protection, fidelity, even others totally opposite such as abuse or bad person.

Many words or expressions acquire denotative or connotative value by virtue of the context.