What is the study of the meaning of language in context?

• A. pragmatics
• B. semantics
• C. syntax
• D. phonology

Answer: (A)

Pragmatics focuses on how meaning is conveyed and interpreted in actual use, taking into account context, speaker intent, and social cues. It explains why people often understand more than the literal words say—for instance, a sentence like “Can you pass the salt?” typically functions as a polite request, not a question about ability, because the situation and shared norms shape interpretation. Semantics deals with the meaning of words and sentences in a more fixed sense, largely independent of context. Syntax looks at how words are arranged to form sentences, and phonology studies the sound system of a language. So, the study of meaning in context is pragmatics.