How is the term 'semantics' best defined?

The term 'semantics' is best defined as the analysis of meaning in language. This includes understanding how words, phrases, sentences, and texts generate meaning and how context can influence interpretation. Semantics focuses on concepts such as connotation, denotation, polysemy, and ambiguity, addressing how language conveys information, ideas, and emotions.

By exploring semantics, one can delve into how different meanings can be derived from the same word depending on the context in which it is used, demonstrating the complexity of language beyond mere structural rules or sound patterns. This understanding of meaning is crucial for effective communication, language therapy, and literacy development, particularly for individuals with language processing difficulties.

The other definitions relate to different aspects of language study: sound patterns pertain to phonetics and phonology, structural rules are part of syntax, and social contexts involve pragmatics. These all contribute to the broader field of linguistics, but they do not encapsulate the focus of semantics specifically on meaning.