Here's why:
* Literal meaning refers to the dictionary definition of a word, its core, objective meaning.
* Connotations are the emotional associations, cultural implications, or subjective meanings that a word carries beyond its literal definition.
For example:
* Home: The literal meaning is "a place where one lives".
* Connotations of "home": Comfort, safety, family, warmth.
The connotations of "home" don't change the fact that it means "a place where one lives". They simply add layers of meaning and feeling.
Connotations can be powerful, influencing how we perceive and understand words, but they don't change the core meaning.