Diction refers to the choice of words in speech and writing. A good speaker or writer chooses the correct word to express the intended meaning. Besides denotations (explicit meanings) a word may have different connotations (implied meanings). There are many words which have been classified as formal and informal expressions. A proficient user of the English language knows the distinction between positive connotative and negative connotative words, and formal and informal words, and uses them appropriately.
Many words have literal (denotative) and suggestive (connotative) meanings. When we look up a word in a dictionary, it gives us the denotations and not the connotations of the word. It is important for every writer and speaker to understand these two types of meanings of words in order to convey a message effectively and to avoid misinterpretation of the message. A word may have a positive or negative connotation. Look at these examples:
1. I love you babe.
2. See the chick. She’s looking at you.
3. What a knockout she is!
In the examples above, the word ‘babe’ has both positive and negative connotations. In some societies it has a positive connotation as it is an endearing term used by a man to address his wife or girlfriend and vice versa but in some other societies it is considered an offensive and sexist term. Feminists say that men who use the term ‘babe’ consider women as sex objects and say the term is unacceptable. The word ‘chick’ has a negative connotation as many women consider it an offensive term because of its flippant nature. In the third example, the word ‘knockout’ which means stunningly beautiful is considered a sexist term when it is used to refer to a woman.
Look at the words ‘skinny’ and ‘slim’. The word ‘skinny’ implies that someone is too thin and unattractive and it is considered a negative connotative word whereas ‘slim’, which means the same, is considered a positive connotative word.
Though the words ‘cheap’ and ‘affordable’ have the same denotative meaning, ‘cheap’ has a negative connotation whereas ‘affordable’ has a positive connotation.
Words have different levels of formality. We use informal language (slang and colloquialism) in conversations and discussions with friends and in informal situations. We use formal language in academic and professional situations.
Words, phrases and structures are classified into formal and informal. Look at the examples below:
1. I was pleased when my friends visited me on my wedding day.
2. I was tickled pink when my friend in Sweden remembered my wedding anniversary and called me this morning.
In the first sentence, the word ‘pleased’ is an example of formal diction and in the second sentence the phrase ‘tickled pink’ is an informal expression and it means ‘very much pleased’.
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