What term refers to language used to describe language?

What term refers to language used to describe language?

• A. Metalanguage
• B. Pragmatics
• C. Semantics
• D. Phonology

Answer: (A)

Metalanguage is language used to describe language itself. It provides the terms we use to talk about grammar, syntax, parts of speech, and how sentences are built. For example, saying that the subject agrees with the verb is using metalanguage to describe linguistic features. Pragmatics looks at how context affects meaning, semantics studies meaning, and phonology focuses on sound patterns; none of those describe language itself in the way metalanguage does.

Metalanguage is language used to describe language itself. It provides the terms we use to talk about grammar, syntax, parts of speech, and how sentences are built. For example, saying that the subject agrees with the verb is using metalanguage to describe linguistic features. Pragmatics looks at how context affects meaning, semantics studies meaning, and phonology focuses on sound patterns; none of those describe language itself in the way metalanguage does.