CONNOTATION is an idea, impression, or emotional aura associated with or surrounding a word, as distinguished from its denotation – the explicit, formal definition which distinguishes it from other words indicating its essential attributes. Simply put, connotation is a secondary meaning suggested by a word including statement or expression in addition to their literal meaning.
Lying connotes guilt and so the witness before a trial court is required to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Read between the lies therefore and find the connotation of the following examples: In “Civil Disobedience” Henry David Thoreau writes about excessive governmental control, asserting “That government is best which governs least.” The connotation or connotative idea is that citizens should be “men first and subjects afterward,”
Furthermore, Thoreau says that “the mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. in most case, there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense, but they put themselves on the level with wood and earth and stones, and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well.”
Likewise, consider these news headlines:
Duterte: No one recommended martial law declaration. The connotation is that PDU30 alone knows how to eliminate the terrorists in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country. Indeed, he knows full well that air strikes will do them in and kill his own soldiers too.
Duterte: If I think its right, you will die. The connotation is that PDU30 arrogates unto himself the power of a benevolent dictator who craves for importance.
Robredo urges Duterte to be faithful to the constitution. The connotation is that the Vice-President doubts the capability and sincerity of PDU30 to go with the grain of the law of the land. She also connotes that PDU30 will not be a benevolent ruler, but will be an impulsive leader.
Vox populi vox dei means the voice of the people is the voice of God. The connotation is that the citizens hold supreme power by electing, either directly or indirectly, their representation in the government. It also connotes that if anyone was allowed to run for a certain position and won in the election, he is the real winner despite a favorable human judgment on a petition for disqualification of the winning candidate. In other words, divine judgment always supersedes human judgment.
Salus populi suprema lex means the welfare of the people is the supreme law. The connotation is that in a democratic form of government, the citizens are sovereign while the electorates could hardly err in choosing their leader in an election even as the members of the Commission on Election en banc may err in judgment.