What is the purpose of denotation and connotation?

Question

anonymous · Answer

denotation is the dictionary definition

e.mccormick · Answer

There are no denotations for puns. =P And to augment what tennisplayer said (which is correct): http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/denotation There is also a contrast to connotation in there.

anonymous · Answer

But like why do authors use denotation and connotation?

e.mccormick · Answer

To explain what it means in a dictionary and to explain what the intent is.  "Home is where the heart is."  The denotation of heart is very different than the connotation.

e.mccormick · Answer

The denotation of heart is the thing that pumps blood through your body or the core of something.  But it has come to be used as where a person's will is at, or their personality.  Hmmm... which might be denotation these days.

It all comes down to defining things.  Connotation is more the, "You get my drift..." sort of thing.  The intention, which may have a lot or a little to do with the meaning.  For example, the original meaning of "Rock and Roll" was a denotation of a certain type of music but a connotation to having sex.  It has to do with one of the first songs that bridged Rockabilly and Jazz music, which had the line "We were a rockin and a rollin all night long."  By explaining the denotation, a type of music, and the connotation, an action, I can better explain the term "rock and roll."

That make sense?