Final answer:
Morphology is the study of the structure, forms, and creation of words in a language, which involves the analysis of morphemes, the smallest meaning-bearing units.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of breaking down words into their constituent parts to understand their meaning is known as morphology. This aspect of linguistics deals with the study of the forms and structures of words in a language, including their smallest meaning-bearing units, known as morphemes. Words in English and other languages are formed by combining various phonemes, which are the basic units of sound in a language, to form morphemes. Phonology, in contrast, is the study of phonemes and the pattern of sounds in a language. Semantics is concerned with the meaning derived from words and morphemes, while syntax is concerned with the structure of sentences - how words are organized and arranged to form sentences and convey meaning.