Name: Steve
Country and Region: Ca, Santa Rosa
Native Language: English
Student or Teacher: Student
Age or Grade: 15

Subject of Question: Word definition

Question:

���� A friend and I have a difference of opinion concerning the word "facade".� She insists that this word, at all times, has a negative connotation. I, however, do not agree. I believe that this word can be qualified with words such as gentle, soft etc. that modify the negative connotation of the word.� Is this so?

Dear Steve-

����������� Hello. � I am writing you on behalf of Ask a Linguistics Tutor in response to your question.� According to the American Heritage College Dictionary, facade (or fa�ade, for that matter) is a loanword from French with at least two possible meanings.

  1. First, it is the face or front of a building. This is probably not what you're looking for, but hey, I'm being thorough. �
  2. Secondly, fa�ade is "an artificial or deceptive front."
So, that meaning of fa�ade appears to have a negative connotation to it if you take the dictionary as gospel.� However, considering that language is an ever-changing and evolving body of information, it seems very plausible to say that fa�ade may mean what you intend it to mean, and that it may bear any connotation you want to smack on it so long as it is understood in your interactions with others. �

So, essentially, your friend is perfectly right to think it has a negative connotation if that's what it means to her, and you, as well, are correct in giving it a positive connotation if it suits you. �

Good luck telling this to your high school English teacher.

Sincerely,
Andrew Pollak
University of Michigan
For Ask a Linguistics Tutor

Fa�ade. The American Heritage College Dictionary. Third Edition, 2000.� (Page 488)