When children learn that "What's up?" is a greeting,not a request for a definition of the word "up," they are learning
A)semantics.
B)pragmatics.
C)morphology.
D)syntax.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pragmatics refers to the study of language in context, including how language is used to communicate beyond its literal meaning. Knowing that "What's up?" is a greeting rather than a literal question about the word "up" involves an understanding of pragmatics. Semantics (A) refers to the meaning of words and how they combine to form sentences, morphology (C) is the study of word structure, and syntax (D) is the study of how words are combined to form sentences.

When Children Learn That "What's Up?" Is a Greeting,not a Request