What does semantics study in language?

Semantics is the branch of linguistics that focuses on the study of meaning in language. It examines how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning, including the relationships among words and how different contexts can alter those meanings. This involves analyzing morphemes (the smallest units of meaning), words, and sentences to understand how they come together to create meaning in a language.

The other options pertain to different aspects of language. The written form of language relates to orthography, which deals with spelling and writing systems. Pronunciation pertains to phonetics and phonology, focusing on the sounds of language. The ability to verbally communicate touches on speech and language development but does not specifically address the meaning derived from language structure. In contrast, semantics uniquely encompasses the comprehensive study of meaning, making the choice that highlights the set of rules deriving meaning the most accurate representation of what semantics studies.