Which phrase is commonly used to describe the basic components of language, such as sounds, words, and sentences?

• A. The function of language
• B. The building blocks of language
• C. Pragmatics of language
• D. Semantic field

Answer: (B)

Think of language as built from its fundamental parts: sounds, words, and the ways we combine those parts into sentences. Saying something is made of the building blocks of language highlights these foundational pieces—the pieces you need to know to understand how language is put together and how it communicates meaning. The other terms describe how language is used or studied rather than what it's made of: the function of language talks about purpose and use; pragmatics looks at language in context and social interaction; semantic field groups related meanings rather than the structural pieces themselves. So, the phrase that best names the basic pieces is the building blocks of language.