What does semantics focus on in language?

Prepare for the ALTA Alliance Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Gain insights into each question with helpful hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Semantics specifically focuses on the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences within a language. This branch of linguistics is concerned with how language conveys meaning and how that meaning changes depending on context, arrangement, and usage. Understanding semantics is crucial for interpreting text and speech accurately, as it allows us to grasp not only the definitions of individual words but also how those words combine to create nuanced meanings in larger constructs.

Other options address different aspects of language study. While spelling is important for effective communication, it falls under orthography rather than semantics. The arrangement of words pertains more to syntax, which deals with the structure and order of words in phrases and sentences. The use of language in context relates more closely to pragmatics, which examines how context influences the interpretation of meaning.

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