Young children sometimes literally interpret sentences like "Do you know where your mommy is?" by answering "Yes." They failed to understand the ________ of the question

A) pragmatics
B) morphemes
C) syntax
D) semantics

Answer: A
Rationale: Pragmatics involves the nonlinguistic elements of language use, and places heavy emphasis
on the speaker's behaviors and the social situation. Pragmatics reminds us that sometimes what is said
is not as important as how it is said. In this example, the answer of "yes" is correct, but ignores the context of the question and the obvious reason for the questioner to ask it.