AEE: What Are You Really Saying? Subtext and Connotation in English

The podcast episode explores the concept of connotation in English, emphasizing its importance for advanced learners aiming for fluency and connection. It addresses a listener's question about the definition, synonyms, and antonyms of "connotation," explaining it as the implied meaning, association, or feeling behind a word, beyond its dictionary definition. The hosts provide examples using words like "cheap," "different," and "challenge" to illustrate how context and tone of voice can drastically change a word's connotation from positive to negative, or vice versa. Synonyms like "implication," "subtext," and "undertone" are offered, along with antonyms such as "denotation" and "literal meaning." The hosts underscore the necessity of understanding connotations for achieving a C1 level of English and building deeper connections with native speakers, advocating for close attention to tone of voice and context.