The quality of language that allows a person to use the relatively small number of words and grammatical structures of a language to compose a theoretically infinite number of sentences is called
A) generativity
B) recursion
C) displacement
D) fixation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generativity refers to the ability of a language to create an infinite number of sentences using a limited set of rules and vocabulary. It allows speakers to produce and understand novel and complex utterances, which is a hallmark of human language. Recursion refers to the ability to embed sentences within other sentences, and displacement refers to the ability to talk about things that are not present in the immediate environment. Fixation refers to the opposite of flexibility and creativity in language use.

The Quality of Language That Allows a Person to Use