Answer :
The smallest representations in language that convey meaning and grammatical properties are (B) morphemes, which can be single phonemes or combinations thereof, and include standalone words as well as prefixes and suffixes. Hence, (B) is the correct option.
Morphemes are the smallest representations in language that carry meaning and grammatical characteristics. The smallest unit of language that can express meaning is called a morpheme.
This can include the semantic meaning of a word, or its grammatical features. Morphology is the study of these forms and how they are used in language structure.
While phonemes are the smallest units of sound, and can combine to form morphemes, morphemes themselves may be made of single phonemes or multiple phonemes and can exist as standalone words or as prefixes and suffixes.
For example, the morpheme 're-' as found in 'rewrite' or 'repay' implies a meaning of 'to do again', whereas the suffix '-est' in 'happiest' or 'coolest' suggests 'to the maximum'. Understanding morphemes is a crucial aspect of comprehending the construction and meaning of words in any given language.
Therefore, (B) morphemes is the correct option.
