Public Speaking, Part 1
Question 1: Define denotative meaning.
Answer 1: Denotative meaning is the way in which a word indicates something else. The word “table,” for instance, denotes a flat surface with three or more legs. A speaker must always be conscious of the denotative meaning of the words he or she uses. The denotative meaning is not decided on an individual basis. Rather, it is the product of unconscious agreements on meaning made by the members of a community. In other words, to ensure that he or she communicates effectively with the audience, the speaker must have a familiarity with the denotative meanings that will be known to the members of that audience. Effective speakers continually refer to a dictionary during speech composition in order to solidify their understanding of denotative meanings.
There are lots of good resources about Public Speaking that you can find available.
Question 2: Define connotative meaning.
Answer 2: Connotative meaning is any implication or a suggestion connected to a word that extends beyond the denotative meaning of the word. The connotative meaning of the word, then, is not strictly the definition of the word. Connotative meanings are often quite emotional in character. For instance, the denotative meaning of the word “whale” is a large mammal that lives in the ocean. When the same word is used in a certain way, however, its connotative meaning may refer to someone who is overweight. Speakers need to be aware of both the connotative and the denotative meanings of the words they use. Otherwise, they run the risk of confusing or even offending the audience members. A detailed dictionary will often have explanations of the various connotative meanings of common words.
Question 3: Discuss the role of definitions in communication.
Answer 3: To be effective, a speaker, must understand the basic definitions of the words he or she is using and make sure to share these definitions with the audience. If the audience members assume different definitions than those the speaker intends, there will be no possibility of communication. Speaker should always strive for clarity and precision in their choice of words. ”Clarity” here means choosing words that directly convey the speaker’s intended meanings. Clear language admits no confusion about the subject matter or intent.And “precise” in this context means words that do the best jobs of denoting the exact meaning intended by the speaker. When the language of a speech is precise, the audience should not have to guess what is denoted by each word.
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