Which of the following describes language tailored for different purposes and audiences?

The concept of language tailored for different purposes and audiences is best captured by pragmatics. Pragmatics refers to the rules and conventions that govern the use of language in social contexts. It encompasses how context influences the interpretation of meaning, including the understanding of implied meanings, the appropriateness of language in various situations, and the ability to adjust language based on audience and purpose.

For example, the way someone might speak in a formal setting (such as a job interview) would differ significantly from how they would communicate with close friends. This adaptability in language use—considering factors like tone, vocabulary choice, and formality—are core components of pragmatics.

In contrast to pragmatics, syntax focuses on the structure of sentences and the rules that dictate how words combine to form phrases and sentences. Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, while phonetics deals with the sounds of human speech. Each of these areas contributes to language but does not specifically address the adaptability of language to different contexts and audiences in the way that pragmatics does.