Using this sentence from “How NASA Measures the Death of a Glacier from Space”:

“Standing on frozen ground, tasting air heavy with huckleberries, I had to perch on a lofty boulder in order to focus the whole ice mass in my smartphone screen.”

Is the phrase “tasting air heavy with huckleberries'' denotative or connotative? Explain how you know this.

1 answer

The phrase "tasting air heavy with huckleberries" is primarily connotative. Denotative language refers to the literal, dictionary definition of words, while connotative language involves the emotional and imaginative associations that words evoke.

In this phrase, "tasting air heavy with huckleberries" conjures sensory imagery that goes beyond a simple description of a taste or smell. It evokes a rich, vivid experience associated with nature, freshness, and perhaps a sense of nostalgia or abundance. The word "heavy" suggests an intensity or fullness that contributes to the emotional weight of the description. The choice of "huckleberries," a specific fruit, adds to the overall sensory experience, invoking feelings of summer or wilderness that may not be captured by a straightforward, denotative interpretation.

Thus, the phrase invites the reader to engage their senses and emotions, demonstrating connotative language usage.