CONNOTATION CATEGORY IN ENGLISH

Analysing the phenomenon of conotema, which is present in phraseological and paremiological units of language, slang, and occasionalisms, is crucial because connotative components lead to the emergence of new lexical-semantic variants in the token's semantic field and provide opportunities for metaphorical, metonymic, and ironic nomination. Within the context of contemporary linguistics, this article offers a thorough examination of the concept of connotation in the English language. The associative, affective, stylistic, and evaluative aspects of lexical meaning that support denotation are known as connotation. The study explores the theoretical foundations of connotation, its classification into major types (positive, negative, neutral), and its extended subcategories, including emotional, expressive, stylistic, cultural, and pragmatic connotations. Special attention is given to the functional role of connotation in discourse, communication, literature, and language teaching. The article also discusses the variability and subjectivity of connotation, emphasizing its dependence on context, speaker intention, and sociocultural background. Through illustrative examples, the paper demonstrates how connotative meanings influence interpretation and communicative effectiveness in English.