Which of the following is a phrase whose meaning cannot be derived from its individual words?

Which of the following is a phrase whose meaning cannot be derived from its individual words?

• A. A phoneme
• B. An idiom
• C. A sociolect
• D. A discourse

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is indeed a phrase whose meaning cannot be derived from its individual words. An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. For example, the phrase "kick the bucket" does not relate to its literal meaning of kicking a physical bucket, but instead refers to an informal way of saying someone has died. In contrast, a phoneme refers to the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, which can be understood by breaking down individual sounds. A sociolect pertains to a dialect associated with a particular social group, which can often be understood through the words and structures used within that context. Discourse refers to written or spoken communication and can often be analyzed based on its individual components. Each of these options has a logical breakdown based on its words, whereas an idiom’s meaning is often opaque and requires cultural or contextual knowledge to fully grasp.

The correct answer is indeed a phrase whose meaning cannot be derived from its individual words. An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. For example, the phrase "kick the bucket" does not relate to its literal meaning of kicking a physical bucket, but instead refers to an informal way of saying someone has died.

In contrast, a phoneme refers to the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, which can be understood by breaking down individual sounds. A sociolect pertains to a dialect associated with a particular social group, which can often be understood through the words and structures used within that context. Discourse refers to written or spoken communication and can often be analyzed based on its individual components. Each of these options has a logical breakdown based on its words, whereas an idiom’s meaning is often opaque and requires cultural or contextual knowledge to fully grasp.