Your professor says that home, to him, means the smell of his mother's cooking. What type of meaning is the professor referring to in his use of the word "home?"

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about types of meaning in the phrase: 
"home" as the smell of his mother's cooking, as described by the professor. This directs us to how words carry different layers of meaning beyond their literal dictionary definitions.

First, consider what connotative meaning is: it refers to the associations, emotions, memories, and personal or cultural significance that a word evokes beyond its explicit, literal sense. In this case, the professor links the word home to a personal sensory memory (the smell of his mother's cooking), which conveys warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. That association goes beyond the basic denotation of the word home (a place where one lives) and taps into subjective feelings tied to family and childhood experiences.

Next, think about denotative meaning: it is the explicit, conventional meaning listed in the dictionary. If the question framed home as simply a place of residence, that would be the denotative interpretation. However, the professor’s framing clearly leans on what home represents to him personally, not just the objective location.

Now, evaluate why connotative interpretation fits best in this scenario: the professor is not just defining home as a building; he is invoking sensory memory (smell), emotional tone (comfort, motherly care), and personal significance. Such elements are classic markers of connotation because they depend on individual associations rather than a universal, literal definition.

Regarding the absence of answer options: without a listed set to evaluate, we can’t compare alternatives like denotative meaning, semantic meaning, affective meaning, or pragmatic meaning. Nevertheless, what the question is aiming to capture is the distinction between the literal meaning of a word and the personal, emotive, and culturally loaded associations that the word can evoke in a person—the realm of connotative meaning.

In sum, the professor’s linkage of home to the smell of his mother’s cooking exemplifies connotative meaning by highlighting subjective associations and emotional resonance attached to the word, rather than its strict dictionary definition.

SMC 2025 Spr - COM ST 35 (3147) - Interpersonal Communication (O) Chapter 4 - Test - Verbal Elements of Communication

Your professor says that home, to him, means the smell of his mother's cooking. What type of meaning is the professor referring to in his use of the word "home?"

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