The denotative language is clear and precise.
Language is a term that comes from the Occitan word lenguatge . The concept refers to the ability of a person to express themselves and establish communication with other individuals through the articulation of sounds or the use of another system of signs.
The denotative adjective , meanwhile, refers to what it denotes. The verb denote, likewise, refers to objectively meaning or, in a broader sense, to indicate.
With these ideas clear, we can move forward with the definition of denotative language . This is the name given to the most precise language, which can be understood in any context and works in the same way for everyone who speaks a certain language .
Denotative language concept
It can be said that denotative language is used in formal settings, although its use goes further. When you want to express something in particular and you want it to be understood in a simple way and without erroneous interpretations , you choose this language.
You can easily understand what denotative language is by contrasting it with connotative language . If the subject appeals to metaphors , double meanings or any social or cultural component that modifies or nullifies the objective meaning, he or she uses connotative language.
Denotative language, in short, refers to words as they are literally used. It is usually impersonal and generally ignores the emotional. Its main objective is to transmit objective information.
Denotative language is useful for conveying unambiguous information.
Advantages and disadvantages of its use
Thanks to denotative language, the message is assigned an unequivocal meaning . The receiver does not have to make an effort to interpret it, so communication is established without major problems or misunderstandings.
This makes denotative language useful in journalism and teaching , to mention two possibilities. If a journalist wants to report news or a teacher wants to teach a class, he or she will seek to rely on the denotative meaning of the words to be clear.
Denotative language, however, can become inconvenient in literature or advertising . In these fields, it is common to seek to transmit emotions or feelings: with connotative language, it is possible to suggest and exploit subjectivity .
Examples of denotative language
Suppose someone says: “The dog is a mammalian animal that belongs to the family group of canids.” It can be stated that this phrase was constructed with denotative language since it includes concrete and objective information , transmitted bluntly.
On the other hand, the expression “My brother is a dog, he plays soccer very badly” uses connotative language. The speaker is not indicating that his brother is really a “dog” (that is, a canid), but rather he is implying that he lacks the skills to practice a sport .
Let's now see what happens with the concept of “clouds” . A person who points out that “there are many clouds in the sky” is using denotative language: he tells what he sees when he looks up. However, if you accuse another individual of “being in the clouds” you are not telling them that you are physically at a high altitude, but rather you are signaling a distraction .