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Loaded Language

Words have both literal and implied meanings. The implied, or connotative, meanings can make words offensive even when their literal, or denotative, meanings are not. Certain words carry such strong negative connotations within a culture that they become taboo. The acceptability of words can change over time and differ between social groups and generations. Who decides when a word becomes taboo in a society is complex, with influences from social norms and censorship laws.

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372 views

Loaded Language

Words have both literal and implied meanings. The implied, or connotative, meanings can make words offensive even when their literal, or denotative, meanings are not. Certain words carry such strong negative connotations within a culture that they become taboo. The acceptability of words can change over time and differ between social groups and generations. Who decides when a word becomes taboo in a society is complex, with influences from social norms and censorship laws.

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api-316836265
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Loaded Language: Connotation & Denotation

Words have the power to do good or ill. Unless you are a psychopath, the old
agage, Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me, is
simply not true. It hurts, for example, to be called an old fart, an ignorant bitch, or
a pompous prick. People break other peoples noses over words like these. Yet they
are just words. How do they come to be so offensive to us?
Words carry both denotative and connotative meaning, and the connotations are
sometimes quite loaded. Denotation refers to the objective, surface or literal
meaning (i.e., the dictionary meaning). Connotation refers to non-objective
meaning(s). For example, the denotative meaning of chick is a baby bird, but the
connotative meaning is a somewhat derogatory and sexist reference to a young
woman.
Qualifiers can also affect the readers interpretation of a text. Qualifiers are words
like: perhaps, some, a number of, possibly, presumably, maybe, occasionally, often,
almost always. [Note: Qualifiers are often used in political doublespeak and
when people are bullshitting you.)
Some words carry such strong connotative meanings within a culture that they are
considered taboo too offensive or obscene to be uttered or published,
politically incorrect. Various kinds of censorship laws often form around the
regulation of specific words. The n-word is probably the best current example.

Example of Loaded Language: Two Accounts of a Dennis Rodman Incident


1. Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman faces yet another suspension by the
NBA for his dangerous tirade in Saturday night's game at Chicago. Rodman
was ejected with 1:31 left in the first quarter after receiving his second
technical foul. Rodman then proceeded to head-butt referee Ted Bernhardt,
catching him just above the left eye. In typical fashion, Rodman then ripped
off his shirt and stormed around the court, pausing briefly to knock over a
water cooler in front of a group of stunned young boys before finally
leaving.
2. Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman faces a suspension by the NBA for
his wild and theatrical behavior in Saturday night's game at New Jersey.
Rodman was given his notice of leave with 1:31 left in the first quarter of
Saturday's game after receiving his second technical foul. Rodman appeared
to have bumped an official during a heated discussion over the foul.
Consistent with past heroics, and to the delight of the Chicago faithful,
Rodman then removed his shirt as he paraded around the court before finally
exiting stage left into his team's locker room.
How does the difference in word choice in these two accounts affect the tone of
each piece?
How does the word choice in each article affect your interpretation of the text (e.g.,
of what you think really occurred, as to the reporters opinion/bias, or other effect
you might think of)?

ICW#4:
What particular words ( PC ot taboo) really bother you personally? Why do you
think they do so?
Do these linguistic taboos change over time? For example, do the words that
bother your parents bother you as well?
Who decides when a word is offensive or taboo in a society?

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