Which term describes the language used to describe, analyze, or explain another language?

• A. Metalanguage
• B. Parsing
• C. Pragmatic competence
• D. Realia

Answer: (A)

Metalanguage is the language we use to talk about language itself. It names and explains the parts and functions of language, such as identifying a subject, verb, or prepositional phrase, describing tense, or labeling a sentence as a question or a statement. This makes it the best fit for describing, analyzing, or explaining language because it provides the vocabulary and concepts needed to discuss language features clearly. Parsing, by contrast, refers to the process of analyzing sentence structure, not the terminology used to discuss language; pragmatic competence is about using language appropriately in context; realia are real-world objects used as teaching aids. For example, saying that a sentence has a subject and a predicate or that the verb agrees with the subject uses metalanguage to describe how language works.