Final answer:
The difference between connotation and denotation is that connotation is the associations and emotions attached to a word, while denotation is the word's literal, dictionary definition. The correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between connotation and denotation is fundamental in understanding word meanings. Denotation refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word. For example, the word "dog" denotes a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice.
On the other hand, connotation refers to the additional meanings that a word suggests or implies, which arise from the emotions or associations it evokes beyond the literal meaning. The word "dog" may connote loyalty and man's best friend, carrying emotional and cultural significance that extend past its denotative meaning.
Therefore, the correct option in the final answer is (a): Connotation is the associations attached to a word, and denotation is a word’s literal meaning.