What does it mean to say that a word or sound is arbitrary?
A) One cannot just guess the meaning from the sound.
B) It has the same meaning in nearly all languages.
C) The word's meaning is the opposite of what it sounds like.
D) The meaning of the word has changed over the years.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When we say that a word or sound is arbitrary, it means that its meaning is not directly related to its sound or appearance. In other words, we cannot guess the meaning of a word just by looking at its letters or by hearing its sounds. We need to learn its meaning through context or explicit instruction.

What Does It Mean to Say That a Word or Sound