Final answer:
Morphology is the branch of grammar concerning the formation of words, while semantics deals with the meanings of words and sentences. These components are integral to understanding and using language effectively, illustrating the complexity of human language acquisition and the innate capacity for learning language.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing language and grammar, morphology refers to a language's rules for word formation, whereas semantics refer to the meaning of the words and sentences. Morphology involves the way in which words are constructed from morphemes, which are the smallest units of meaning. For example, adding "-ed" at the end of most English verbs signifies the past tense. Semantics, on the other hand, pertains to the interpretation and conceptual significance of words and sentences, guiding our understanding of language beyond mere structure to include context, connotation, and the nuances of meaning.
An illustration of this can be seen in the sentence: "Eating an apple a day can keep the doctor away." Here, "eating," which is typically a verb, is functioning nominally as the subject, demonstrating how word function can change based on sentence structure. This variation between form and function is essential in semantics, as it affects the meaning of sentences and phrases within specific contexts.
Language Development and Acquisition
Language acquisition is particularly fascinating because it occurs without explicit instruction, and children demonstrate an innate proficiency in mastering language at an early age. This rapid development suggests a biological predisposition to learn language, supporting theories that claim language is inherent to human nature.