Depending on the social context, "Do you have the time?" could mean "Are you busy right now?" or "What time is it?" The knowledge that helps you decide how to respond to this question is called ________.
A)syntax
B)semantics
C)pragmatics
D)bottom-up processing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics concerned with the use of language in social contexts and the ways in which people produce and comprehend meanings through language. It explains how we understand the intended meaning behind a question like "Do you have the time?" based on the context, rather than just the literal meaning of the words.

Depending on the Social Context, "Do You Have the Time