Which term refers to the systematic study of language structure?

The correct answer, linguistics, refers to the comprehensive and systematic study of language structure. It encompasses a wide range of topics related to language, including its sounds (phonetics), word formation (morphology), sentence structure (syntax), meaning (semantics), and the context of language use (pragmatics). This broad scope highlights linguistics as the overarching field that investigates how languages operate, evolve, and function within societies.

In contrast, the other choices focus on specific aspects of language. Phonology deals specifically with the sound systems of languages and how those sounds interact with one another. Semantics is the study of meaning, focusing on how words and phrases convey meaning in context. Pragmatics examines language in use, particularly how context influences meaning and how conversations are structured. While all of these terms are crucial components of linguistics, they each represent narrower domains within the broader study of language structure that linguistics encompasses fully.