The use of "arbitrary" in our definition of language refers to which of the following?
A) Phrase structure rules are meaningless without their associated lexical rules
B) Standardized forms can come from any linguistic variety and may even be pieced together from multiple dialects
C) There must be a consensus by a majority of speakers to determine whether or not a statement is grammatical or ungrammatical
D) There is no naturally-determined correlation between the sound and meaning of words
E) Whether or not someone understands your dialect may only be a reflection of their language attitudes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The use of "arbitrary" in our definition of language refers to the fact that there is no naturally-determined correlation between the sound and meaning of words. The meanings of words are assigned by convention and do not arise directly from the sounds themselves.

The Use of "Arbitrary" in Our Definition of Language Refers