Compositionality in Linguistics

Compositionality in linguistics is the principle that the meaning of a complex expression, like a sentence, is determined by the meanings of its parts and how they are combined. Essentially, understanding a sentence involves interpreting the individual words and how their arrangement creates the overall message. This concept explains why we can understand new sentences by applying our knowledge of words and grammar, enabling effective communication and language learning. It highlights the systematic relationship between smaller elements and the larger meanings they form.