Which term describes the emotional associations connected to a word?

• A. Connotation
• B. Denotation
• C. Context Cues
• D. Credible Websites

Answer: (A)

The term that describes the emotional associations connected to a word is connotation. Connotation goes beyond the literal definition of the word, which is referred to as denotation, and delves into the feelings and ideas that a word conjures in the minds of individuals. For example, the word "home" carries a positive connotation of comfort, warmth, and safety, while the word "snake" may evoke feelings of fear or danger. Understanding connotation is essential in literature and communication as it allows one to grasp the subtleties of language and the emotional weight that certain words may carry in different contexts.

Denotation is the direct, dictionary definition of a word without its emotional weight, while context cues refer to the surrounding text or situation that helps clarify meaning, although they do not specifically describe emotional associations. Credible websites do not relate to language at all in this context. Thus, connotation aptly captures the essence of emotional associations tied to words.