What is the purpose of etymology? (1 point)
to learn how to spell a word correctly
to explain the meaning of a word
to understand how sounds are produced in a language
O to tell how a word has changed or evolved
O to tell how a word has changed or evolved
The purpose of etymology is to tell how a word has changed or evolved.
The purpose of etymology is to tell how a word has changed or evolved over time. To determine the purpose, we can look at the options provided and analyze each one.
Option 1: "to learn how to spell a word correctly" - While etymology can provide some insights into the spelling of a word by tracing its historical development, its primary purpose is not spelling.
Option 2: "to explain the meaning of a word" - While etymology does provide insights into the origins of words and their meanings, this is not its primary purpose.
Option 3: "to understand how sounds are produced in a language" - While etymology can offer some clues about sound changes in a language, its primary purpose is not related to the understanding of phonetics or sound production.
Option 4: "to tell how a word has changed or evolved" - This option accurately describes the primary purpose of etymology. Etymology explores the historical development of words, tracing their origins, changes in spelling, meanings, and usage throughout linguistic history.
Therefore, the correct answer is "to tell how a word has changed or evolved."