At the behest of the linguistics, the word denotation is the one used to designate the most basic meaning that a word presents and that as such, all individuals who speak the language know it.
Literal meaning of a word and devoid of any subjectivity
That is, the denotation is the direct meaning, the formal and more extended reference that a word has, as it appears in a dictionary of the language of the language in question, and that lacks any type of subjectivity added by the speaker.
This meaning or reference indicates the relationship that exists between the linguistic sign and its referent.
The denotative meaning of table indicates that it is a piece of furniture, usually made of wood, or it can also be made of other materials, consisting of a horizontal table that will be supported by one, two, three, four, or more vertical legs, and that people use it to eat, work, cook, among other functions.
In other words, with regard to denotation there will in no way be contradictions, nor, as we have already indicated, subjectivities, since what is expressed is the universal meaning of a term on which there is a convention.
In short, objectivity and denotation are an alliance, they go hand in hand.
The other meaning of a word that expresses appreciation or emotion: connotation
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the words have two meanings, on the one hand the aforementioned denotative and on the other hand the connotative, which will be determined by that value, emotion and feeling that people apply to the term in question as a consequence of the formal meaning to which the word is associated.
Thus, for example, the word rape, whose literal meaning implies the action and result of raping, which implies breaking a law or sexually abusing someone, is that for most people, the word will have a negative connotation. , that is to say, it is a term that proposes an unpleasant question, an aberrant crime, and therefore its connotation will go in the same sense.
Another example to further clarify the issue is birthday, which is a word that most people associate with celebration, joy, however, it can happen that an individual evokes sad memories, and therefore, there changes the connotation of a positive kind that always revolves around the word.
All the terms of a language have these two faces: connotation and denotation, prioritizing the characteristics, experiences and contexts of the sender and receiver, and the objective, respectively.
It is difficult for the denotative aspect of a word to change over time, however, this change can affect the connotation that can be attributed to it.
From the above, then, it follows that the word connotation is the opposite concept of the term in question.
The connotation is the subjective meaning that is attributed to a word by its indirect association with another and regardless of the real meaning of the word, which corresponds to the denotation.
Both, connotation and denotation, complement each other in language to add richness and meaning.
Using the connotation will imply giving a meaning to the words that are used and that transcends their literal reference.
It is a subjective interpretation that will be in relation to the feelings, emotions, sensations, and experiences lived by the speaker or listener.
It is important that we be clear that all words have a denotative and connotative meaning at the same time, because although there is a definition for every word there is also a different connotation for each of them, and that will depend on the subject that intervenes in the communication , or giving a speech, for example.
In our language we use many expressions not because of the literal meaning of the words but because of the cultural association that exists of them, for example: “María has the sight of a lynx”, a comparison that has the intention of expressing that María has good eyesight. , since the lynx is precisely characterized by having a very good vision.
Explanation of a question by signs or signals
And this term is also used to express the explanation of something that is obtained from clues or signals.
For example, based on certain indications, it is possible that someone is responsible for a crime committed.
Those indications or signs are collated by the investigators of the case in question, and if they turn out to be true or corresponding, it will be possible to attribute the guilt of the fact to whom those signs indicate.
