Young children sometimes literally interpret sentences like "Do you know where your mommy is?" by answering "Yes." They fail to understand the __________ of the question.
A) pragmatics
B) propositional representation
C) syntax
D) nativism

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pragmatics refers to the study of how context and social cues influence the interpretation of language. In this example, the child fails to consider the pragmatic meaning of the question, which is asking whether the child knows the physical location of their mother. Instead, the child interprets it literally as asking whether they possess the knowledge of their mother's existence, which they do.

Young Children Sometimes Literally Interpret Sentences Like "Do You Know