Theory of Translation 1 Introduction

2.13.2.2 Seven Types of Meaning 
Meaning in its widest sense can be divided into seven types. The differences in them 
can exhibit how each type contributes to the total effect of linguistic communication. 
The diagram on the next page explains various types of meaning: 
Types of Meaning 
Denotative Connotative 
Associative 
Collocative Thematic 
Stylistic Affective Reflected
(I) Denotative Meaning 
Denotative meaning is also known as ‘cognitive’ or ‘logical’ meaning. This kind of 
meaning is considered the most significant part of linguistic communication which is 
necessary for the essential functioning of a language. There are two structural 
principles at the basis of all linguistic patterning: The principle of ‘contrastiveness’ 
and the principle of constituent structure. Contrastive features are defined positively 
by the features it does not have. For example, the meaning of the word ‘woman’ could 
be shown as +human, -male, +adult, different from ‘boy’ whose meaning could be 
defined as +human, +male, -adult. 

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(II) Connotative Meaning 
Connotative meaning, in addition to its purely conceptual content, is the 
communicative value of an expression. For instance, the contrastive features, +human, 
-male, +adult gives the conceptual meaning of the word ‘woman’, but there are a 
number of additional nonessential features associated with the word. They include not 
only physical characteristics but also psychological properties like ‘emotional’, 
‘sociable’ characteristics a ‘woman’ is supposed to have, according to the point of 
view of an individual or a group or a whole society. 
There are a few facts that distinguish connotative meaning. Firstly, connotation is not 
an essential part of language. It is common to other communication systems such as 
visual art and music. Secondly, connotations are unstable. They vary according to 
culture, historical period and the individual experience. On the other hand, it is 
assumed that on the whole, the speakers of a language have the same conceptual 
framework and syntax without which communication through a language would not 
be possible. In fact, semanticists today assume that all languages have the same basic 
conceptual framework which is of great significance from translator’s point of view. 
Thirdly, connotative meaning is not something clearly seen or fixed as conceptual 
meaning. It is open ended in the sense that any subjective or objective characteristic 
of an object may contribute to the connotative meaning. 
The characteristics of connotative meaning like indeterminacy and open-endedness 
create a host of problems for a translator. Although a translator has knowledge of 
different meanings of a word, there are several possibilities before him and the choice 
of the proper TL equivalent becomes difficult.