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Every word and every phrase has a meaning, whether it's denotation, connotation, or contextual meaning. Oftentimes there could be a difference between them.
EXAMPLE
Take a look at the word "sick." The denotation of that is to be ailing physically or emotionally. The connotation of sick is generally negative, but watch how it can change:Sick | ||
Denotation | Connotation | Contextual |
---|---|---|
Ailing physically or emotionally | Negative | Awesome. "Those graphics are sick." |
When different groups work together, they start to develop their own language. Maybe in this instance you have a group of graphic designers, and they use the word "sick" to mean something good. "Sick" now all of a sudden has a positive connotation.
If they were to be communicating outside of their group, this could be a common source of miscommunication. On the other side, if you're outside of that group, and they're talking about the word "sick," it's important to not assume that you know the meaning of it.
Let's take a look at another example.
EXAMPLE
Suppose you have an employee that sends out an email that says, "I need you to create a flowchart for this project.""I need you to create a flowchart for this project." | ||
Denotation | Connotation | Contextual |
---|---|---|
Visual representation of responsibilities and deliverables identified by shapes | Rigid/structured | Informal timeline with due dates |
The denotation of "flowchart" is a visual representation of responsibilities and deliverables identified by shapes. The connotation of a flowchart is very rigid and structured.
Say this employee works in a group, and his or her idea of a flowchart is that it is just an informal timeline with due dates. For that employee and his or her group, a flowchart is a straight line with additional lines to indicate dates and deliverables.
The people in this group communicate all the time, so they have a common understanding of what their flowchart is. People who are not in that group or new to the group may not understand.
There's a way to remedy situations where there is a misunderstanding or a lack of clarity. These people need to be clear and concise with their communication. They need to know their audience. If they're outside of their internal group, they need to be able to tweak their message. Maybe they will need to explain what is needed with a flowchart.
Communication should be free of bias to ensure it's neutral. You want to ensure the intended message was received correctly. Ask yourself: how was my tone? Was emphasis placed where it needed to be so this person is clear on what's expected?
Note groups or individuals with different cultural backgrounds. You want to be sure that the intention of your message has been received correctly. It's also important to communicate clearly to groups of people that have experienced ineffective communication. Pay special attention to those complex communications. If there are fewer roles established, follow through to make sure team members understand what they're doing.
Source: This work is adapted from Sophia author Kelly Nordstrom