Which of the following is NOT considered a characteristic of language use?

The characteristic that is not typically associated with language use is phonetics. Phonetics primarily deals with the physical properties of sounds in human speech, analyzing how sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived. It focuses on the acoustic and physiological aspects rather than how language is used in context.

In contrast, pragmatics examines how context influences the interpretation of meaning in language, such as how speakers use language in social situations. Morphology involves the structure of words and the rules for word formation, playing a key role in understanding how language conveys meaning. Metalinguistics refers to the awareness and understanding of the properties and functions of language itself, which is crucial for language use, as it enables speakers to think about how they use and analyze language.

Thus, while pragmatics, morphology, and metalinguistics are all essential to understanding and using language, phonetics is mainly concerned with sound rather than the functional aspects of language in communication.