Which term is associated with the study of meaning?

• A. Semantics
• B. Lexicon
• C. Semantic
• D. Pragmatics

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how we name the study of meaning in language. Semantics is the field that investigates how words, phrases, and sentences carry meaning, how meanings are constructed, and how truth conditions relate to language. The word semantic is an adjective meaning related to meaning, describing things that pertain to meaning, but the field itself is called semantics. For example, semantics looks at how the same word can have different meanings in different contexts, and how combinations of words convey specific messages. Lexicon refers to the vocabulary or word meanings stored in memory, while pragmatics deals with how context and speaker intent affect interpretation. So, the term associated with the study of meaning is semantics.