In morphology, what is combined to form meaningful language?

The correct answer highlights that morphemes, which are the smallest units of meaning in a language, combine to create meaningful language constructs. Free morphemes can stand alone as words (like "cat" or "walk"), while bound morphemes cannot exist independently and often serve to modify the meanings of free morphemes (such as prefixes or suffixes like "un-" in "unhappy" or "-ed" in "walked").

Combining these morphemes allows for the expansion of language, enabling speakers to convey complex ideas and form new words. For example, by attaching "un-" to the free morpheme "known," you create the new word "unknown," altering the meaning entirely. This process is fundamental in morphology since it is the mechanism by which language evolves and adapts.

Other options involve elements that are related to language formation but do not capture the specific foundational concept of morphology, which revolves around morphemes. While letters and syntax relate to how structures are formed, and words and phrases pertain to higher-level constructions, it is the interplay of morphemes that is central to the creation of meaning at the most basic level of language. Sounds and symbols relate more to phonetics and written language but