The concept of a connotation is often explained by the conjugational formula devised by Bertrand Russel in a 1950s radio interview: I am firm; you are obstinate; he is pigheaded. The formula was turned into a word game in a radio show and newspaper feature and elicited hundreds of triplets. I am slim; you are thin; he is scrawny. I am a perfectionist; you are anal; he is a control freak. I am exploring my sexuality; you are promiscuous; she is a slut. In each triplet the literal meaning of the words is held constant, but the emotional meaning ranges from attractive to neutral to offensive.
– Steven Pinker, The Stuff of Thought
Começando livro novo depois de ter me esforçado para chegar ao final de Wicked. Não bastasse o livro ser bem chato, acabei de descobrir no site do no site do Gregory Maguire, o autor, que dá pra ler ele de graça online. Hmpf.