Question

A 5-year-old child becomes confused when his father rolls his eyes and says "that guy was really helpful" following an argument with an unhelpful store clerk. The child's confusion is most likely due to:

A. limited understanding of the syntax used in his father's sentence
B. insufficient cognitive development to understand this adult situation
C. lack of understanding of the role of pragmatics in interpreting meaning
D. having not yet encountered or learned the definition of the term "sarcasm"

Answer 1

The child's confusion is most likely due to a limited understanding of the role of pragmatics in interpreting meaning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The child's confusion is most likely due to a limited understanding of the role of pragmatics in interpreting meaning. Pragmatics refers to the social rules that guide language use and understanding in different contexts. In this case, the child may not yet understand that his father's comment is sarcastic and meant to convey the opposite meaning of what was said. This could be because the child has not yet encountered or learned the definition of the term 'sarcasm.'