Question

What is the primary focus of 'syntax' as a field of study in linguistics?

• A. The meaning of words and sentences.
• B. The sound system of a language.
• C. The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
• D. The historical evolution of languages.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Syntax is the branch of linguistics that studies how words are arranged to form phrases and sentences. It focuses on the rules and principles that govern sentence structure and the relationships between different elements within a sentence. It is distinct from semantics (meaning), phonology (sound), and historical linguistics (language evolution).