Final answer:
Connotation is the association of meaning that a word takes on based on personal or cultural context, which can alter during a discussion. This understanding requires recognizing the dynamic and evolving nature of language as words carry historical and sociocultural weight. Children's use of overgeneralization in language learning is a clear example of this phenomenon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Connotation refers to the meanings a reader associates with a word based on their own background and experiences which can vary greatly, leading to a change in the interpretation of that word within the same discussion.
This linguistic phenomenon occurs because language is not static, and words often carry with them a significant load of cultural, historical, and sociocultural significances, as illustrated by terms changing connotations and denotations over time.
It is important for language users to understand that a dictionary definition may not fully capture these nuances and that language continues to evolve, something the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) captures with historical usage examples.
Instances where the meaning of a word changes in the course of the same discussion can create misunderstandings or shift the nature of the conversation, as seen in examples of linguistic relativity or when words acquire new meanings based on usage, context, and cultural shifts.
This is particularly significant in areas such as poetry and the arts, where language's symbolic origin is a fundamental part of expression and includes its literal and figurative meanings.
Children's language acquisition exemplifies this dynamic nature of language through the process of overgeneralization, demonstrating an understanding of rules even as they learn the exceptions. As one interacts with language, one engages with the historical and evolving meanings of words and their symbolic significance.