Which of the following describes the judgments and references that accompany a word?

The correct choice is connotation, as this term specifically refers to the associations, emotions, and judgments that a word evokes beyond its literal meaning, or denotation. For example, the word "home" connotes warmth, safety, and comfort, suggesting feelings and ideas that go beyond its definition as simply a place of residence. Understanding connotation is essential for grasping the nuances of language, particularly in literature and everyday communication, where words can carry weight based on personal or cultural contexts.

Pragmatics, on the other hand, deals with language use in context and how meaning is constructed in specific situations, rather than the associations of individual words. Semantics focuses on the meaning of words and phrases in isolation, emphasizing the definition and structure of language rather than the emotional or social implications of those words. Phonics relates to the sounds of letters and their combinations in spoken language and is primarily concerned with reading and pronunciation, not with the deeper meanings of words.