"Home" Denote vs. Connote

KJ just so happened to be attending the birth of her grandson, so we should all be expecting quite a few newborn pictures this Wednesday. Unfortunately, due to my client's absence, I was unable to assess her reaction to each of my pictures.


An important distinction was raised concerning verbal semiotic notation in aphasic patients. Denotations, descriptive words, tend to be easier for patients with more profound Broca's. Telegraphic speech, the omission of semantic connectors, is a common characteristic of expressive aphasia. Connotations, inferential words, tend to involve a higher range of cognitive associations and are a much deeper thought process. As such, interpretative descriptions require more mental work. I'll give examples for this speech dichotomy in the following pictures. 

Denote:
Brown, Grey, Green, Tan
Roses, Leaves, Shadows
Dried


Connote:
Preserved, Fragile, Love

Denote:
Blue, Water, Sky, Sand
Child, Ocean, Wind
Trucks
Footsteps


Connote:
Cold, Mystery, Peace, Dusk

This was chosen as the strongest image of the group. 

Denote:

Red, Blue, White, Brown, Silver

Wood, Pots, Pans, Plates, Mugs, Tins 

Connote: Rugged, Rustic, Old-Timey, Patriotic (Admittedly, this picture was taken in the Rebel Camp of a Civil War Reenactment, so take what you will with that one)