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Welcome!
AT THIS WEB SITE: Previews
of the First New Language Reference Tools to be Developed in
More Than 150 Years.
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This is the home page of the Emotional
Dictionary/Thesaurus Project. This page has six short sections.
HOME PAGE INDEX
Language Reference Breakthrough:
First Since Roget's Thesaurus (1852)
In the long history of the written word,
three types of language reference tools have evolved:
1. Grammar, Spelling, and Style Guides. The first English grammar treatise was
published in 1640 (Ben Jonson, posthumously). Today, you can go into any book store and
choose from countless books and software programs dedicated to improving your grammar,
spelling, and writing style. As well, all major word processing programs feature built-in
spell checkers and grammar/style checkers.
2. Dictionaries. The first English-language dictionary
was published nearly 400 years ago (Robert Cawdrey, 1604). Today's dictionary variants
include:
* Standard dictionaries
in print, software, and on-line formats
* Language-translating
dictionaries in all formats
* Special-topic dictionaries
such as reverse dictionaries (e.g.,
the Wordtree Branching
Dictionary), dictionaries of rhyme, slang, idiom,
first names, computer terms,
medical terms, musical terms, and endless
other subjects
3. Thesauruses (or Thesauri, if you
prefer). Rudimentary
"synonym dictionaries" were published in the 17th Century. However, Peter
Roget's 1852 Thesaurus is considered the pioneer of modern thesauruses of
synonyms and antonyms. Today's electronic thesaurus variants include the IdeaFisher
("a thesaurus on steroids") and the Plumb Design Visual Thesaurus.
Now: Connotative language
reference tools—the first language reference breakthrough since 1852. An entirely new type of whole-language reference
tool, based on content never before available—the emotional or connotative
meanings of words and phrases—will soon become available in
print, software, and online formats. You will see previews of these new emotional language
reference tools when you take the Preview
Tour.
[To Index]
Purpose of this Preview Site
This Web site serves two purposes:
- To show you previews of the world's first emotional
language reference tools (books and software). They include:
*
Emotional dictionaries
* Emotional thesauruses
* Emotion-checking
software
- To garner your "votes" and
comments on these new reference tools for writers. How you vote and what you
say at this Web site will strongly influence which tools get publishing priority.
(You will find out all about each separate
emotional language reference tool when you take the Preview Tour. But before you do, please
take a few minutes to find out a bit more about the world's first "Emotional Power
Tools for Writers." Read on!)
[To Index]
This Web Site, Writing.ws, is a
Commerce-free Zone!
- No advertising banners
- No products for sale
- No membership solicitation
- No site registration
- No mailing lists
Brief Background: Words Convey Two Kinds
of Meaning, Not One
As all good writers know, most words and
phrases convey two distinctly different kinds of meaning simultaneously.
These two kinds of meaning correspond to the intellectual-emotional duality
in human thinking and behavior.
DENOTATION, also known as cognitive meaning,
refers to the direct relationship between a term and the object, idea, or action it
designates [the familiar "dictionary" meaning].
CONNOTATION, also known as affective meaning, refers to the emotive
or associational aspect of a term [not available in dictionaries].
(McArthur, T. The Oxford Companion to the English Language.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992)
Words such as celebration,
springtime, and kiss arouse unique assemblages of
positive emotional connotations. Words such as homeless, cancer,
and rape summon clouds of negative emotional connotations. Many
words and phrases, such as bullfight, call up mixed positive and
negative connotations. Connotative meaning also includes the evocation of other sensations
and impressions, such as power (e.g., war) and activity (e.g.,
carnival).
Today's dictionaries and
thesauruses are completely devoid of connotative meaning. However, as you
will see at this Web site, new emotional language reference products
will soon change the world of language reference. The full range of connotative or
emotional meaning associated with all the words of an entire language will be available to
everyone—for the first time in the history of language. And not just the English
language—all major languages!
[To Index]
The Preview Tour shows you these new emotional
language reference tools. The Preview Tour
takes you through eight short "ballots" that show you what the various tools
look like. (If you are in a hurry, you can whip through all of the ballots in about 5
minutes.). They are:
- Demographics
- Emotional Dictionary
- Emotional Thesaurus
- "He Meant/She Meant"
Emotional Dictionary
- Emotional Character/Person Namer
- Emotional Product/Business Namer
- Connotation Checker (Emotion Checker)
- Emotional Language Translator
"What's In It For Me?" (Your Rewards)
When you finish voting in the Preview Tour, you get two rewards:
- The password to the Web site with the RESULTS OF ALL THE BALLOTING to date.
- THE WEB'S MOST USEFUL RESOURCE PAGE FOR
WRITERS: 800 books and links
for writers, indexed and alphabetized. Here is the Table of Contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Selection of Useful Books for Writers
ALPHABETICALLY BY AUTHOR
ALPHABETICALLY BY TITLE
The Web's Most Useful Links for Writers
BOOKSELLERS
DICTIONARIES & THESAURUSES ONLINE
EDUCATION & INSTRUCTION FOR WRITERS
GENRE FICTION
Children’s Lit
Horror
Mystery & Crime
Romance
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Western
JOURNALISM
Ezines & Print
Publications Online
General Info
LANGUAGES
LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES FOR WRITERS
General Info
Literary Scams
MARKETS AND EMPLOYMENT FOR WRITERS
ORGANIZATIONS FOR WRITERS
POETRY
PUBLISHING
SCRIPTWRITING
SEARCH & REFERENCE
General Reference
Search Engines & Directories
SOFTWARE FOR WRITERS
WRITING – GENERAL INTEREST & RESOURCES
Before you vote, you may wish to read our
brief FAQ, or learn about the Technology and History behind emotional language reference
tools. On the other hand, you may simply wish to ...
[To Index] |
