In analytic languages, which feature is emphasized for conveying grammatical meaning?

In analytic languages, which feature is emphasized for conveying grammatical meaning?

• A. Word order is the primary cue for syntax.
• B. Morphology is the primary cue for syntax.
• C. Tone is the primary cue for syntax.
• D. Stress patterns determine syntax.

Answer: (A)

In analytic languages, grammatical meaning is shown mainly through the order of words. Since these languages keep most words in a fairly fixed form and don’t rely on many endings or affixes, who does what to whom and when is signaled by the arrangement of subject, verb, and object. That makes word order the primary cue for syntax in analytic languages. Morphology—that is, changing word forms with endings or affixes—is not the main mechanism here; that approach is typical of synthetic or agglutinative languages. Tone or stress can affect meaning in some cases, but they aren’t the central way analytic languages convey grammatical relationships like subject, tense, or case.

In analytic languages, grammatical meaning is shown mainly through the order of words. Since these languages keep most words in a fairly fixed form and don’t rely on many endings or affixes, who does what to whom and when is signaled by the arrangement of subject, verb, and object. That makes word order the primary cue for syntax in analytic languages.

Morphology—that is, changing word forms with endings or affixes—is not the main mechanism here; that approach is typical of synthetic or agglutinative languages. Tone or stress can affect meaning in some cases, but they aren’t the central way analytic languages convey grammatical relationships like subject, tense, or case.