Recently, at an English Language Teaching (ELT) workshop, I asked the participants to write some adjectives that they think are associated with the words ‘fat’ and ‘chubby’. The teacher participants had written the adjectives unpleasant, unattractive, horrible, terrible, and objectionable for the word ‘fat’ and beautiful, attractive, pleasant, good-looking, lovely, enchanting, and delightful for the word ‘chubby’.
Many words in English have both denotative and connotative meanings. Denotative meaning of a word refers to the literal meaning of the term whereas connotative meaning refers to the associations that are connected to it and the emotions that are attached to the word.
Let us consider the example of the word ‘skinny’. The denotative meaning of the word is ‘very thin’. It is perceived as a negative word as it carries the negative connotations ‘unhealthy’, ‘malnourished’ and ‘unattractive’. No woman wants to be to be described as ‘skinny’ though she is very thin. Which word does she prefer then? ‘Slim’ also means ‘thin’ but it carries positive connotations. Many models are skinny but they are described as ‘slim’.
Because of positive connotations the word enjoys, ‘slim’ has acquired this new meaning: “attractively thin”. By going through matrimonial advertisements we can come across many adjectives that have positive connotations.
Consider these two advertisements from a matrimonial website:
• Need alliance for Pune based Gupta boy 27/5’6”. MBA – Runs own business. Girl should be well educated, homely, slim, tall and beautiful
• High status Goel family invites alliance for their boy 28/178, handsome, smart, convent educated looking for beautiful, tall, slim, convent educated, family oriented girl from respected high status family
The word ‘homely’ finds place in almost all matrimonial ads. What does ‘homely’ mean? Does it have positive connotations?
The denotative meanings of the word, according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, are: lacking in physical attractiveness, not beautiful, unattractive, and not having elegance.
In the United States, the word carries a negative connotations as it suggests an absence of beauty but in the United Kingdom, the word has positive connotations as it suggests ‘wholesome simplicity without artificial refinement or elegance’. In India, the term ‘homely’ has wider acceptance and unique positive connotations such as simple, obedient, friendly, hospitable, pleasant, and modest.
For feminists in India the word may have negative connotations as a ‘homely woman’ is expected to stay at home and take care of her parents-in-law.