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 talk about language itself. It names and analyzes elements of language—grammar, syntax, parts of speech—so we can discuss how language works. For example, saying that “a noun is a person, place, or thing” uses metalanguage because it describes a linguistic category rather than making a usual message. It also covers terms like subject and object when we’re describing sentence structure.

Semantics deals with meaning, pragmatics with how context affects interpretation, and phonology with the sound system of a language. These areas study language rather than describe language itself, so they’re not the term for language about language.