What does semantics focus on?

Study for the ETS Psychology Test. Improve your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Semantics is the branch of linguistics that deals specifically with meaning. It focuses on how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning in a language. This includes not only the definition of individual words but also how they combine in larger structures to create meanings and convey ideas.

Understanding semantics is crucial for interpreting language accurately, as it sheds light on how context can affect meaning, how different meanings can arise from the same words, and how language can express complex concepts. By emphasizing the meaning of words and sentences, semantics serves as a foundational aspect of language comprehension and communication.

In contrast, the other domains mentioned in the options deal with different aspects of language: the arrangement of sentences pertains more to syntax, the structure of language relates to overall linguistic frameworks, and the sound of language is concerned with phonetics and phonology.

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