Adding an "s" to the word "dog" changes its meaning from referring to a single dog to referring to multiple dogs. Small units of words like the "s" in dogs that change the meaning of the word are known as _______________________.

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The question asks about the small units of words that can change meaning, using the example of adding an "s" to dog to indicate plural. 
Option 1: morphemes. This is the correct linguistic term for the smallest meaningful units of language, including affixes like the plural -s that modify meaning. The plural -s is a morpheme attached to the noun to indicate plurality. 
Option 2: semantics. Semantics deals with meaning in language at a broader level, including how words and sentences convey meaning, but it is not the name for the smallest unit that carries meaning itself. 
Option 3: pragmatics. Pragmatics concerns how context influences meaning, how speakers use language in social situations, and is not about the smallest units that modify word meaning. 
Option 4: syntax. Syntax governs the structure and arrangement of words in sentences, such as word order and grammatical relationships, and does not refer to the smallest meaningful units like morphemes.

PSC 140V 001 SS1 2025 Mini Quiz: Language development, part 1

Adding an "s" to the word "dog" changes its meaning from referring to a single dog to referring to multiple dogs. Small units of words like the "s" in dogs that change the meaning of the word are known as _______________________.

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