Final answer:
The 'text base' refers to the literal meanings of words, which is the most basic level of understanding a text before considering inferential, figurative, or emotional connotations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks about the text base, which refers to the most basic, literal level of understanding the words in a text. The correct answer to the student's question is a. Literal meanings. When we analyze language, the denotative, or literal meaning, is the dictionary definition. It is straightforward and direct, without the nuances of inferential, figurative, or emotional connotations. The denotation serves as the text base or the foundational understanding upon which further meaning can be built through analysis of context, cultural, or historical connotations.
Different types of meanings such as inferential, figurative, and emotional intensify and enrich the literal base of words as we interpret text. Writers may choose words based on these deeper connotations to convey more complex ideas or emotions, but the text base remains their literal meanings. Understanding the text base is essential for any further literary analysis or interpretation, as it grounds the reader in what is actually being said before exploring the subtleties of language.