Which term refers to whether a language is spoken, written, or signed?

Which term refers to whether a language is spoken, written, or signed?

• A. Phonology
• B. Modality
• C. Prosody
• D. Morphology

Answer: (B)

Modality is the channel through which language is conveyed. It describes whether language is spoken (voice and hearing), written (written symbols), or signed (visual gestures). This makes it the best choice because it names the medium of communication itself, not how sounds are organized or how words are built. Phonology is about the system of sounds in a language, prosody covers rhythm, stress, and intonation, and morphology deals with the structure of words and morphemes. None of those describe the channel or medium of the language, which is what modality captures.

Modality is the channel through which language is conveyed. It describes whether language is spoken (voice and hearing), written (written symbols), or signed (visual gestures). This makes it the best choice because it names the medium of communication itself, not how sounds are organized or how words are built.

Phonology is about the system of sounds in a language, prosody covers rhythm, stress, and intonation, and morphology deals with the structure of words and morphemes. None of those describe the channel or medium of the language, which is what modality captures.