A difference between the surface structure and the deep structure of language is that

Question

a. surface structure is the superficial grammatical construction of a sentence, whereas deep structure is the underlying meaning of a sentence.
b. surface structure is the number of words one understands, whereas deep structure is the number of words one can use in a sentence.
c. surface structure is the automatic repetition of sounds or words, whereas deep structure is the use of pitches of varying levels to help communicate meaning.
d. surface structure includes prelinguistic vocalizations like cooing and babbling, whereas deep structure includes holophrases and telegraphic speech.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

a. surface structure is the superficial grammatical construction of a sentence, whereas deep structure is the underlying meaning of a sentence.

This distinction is commonly associated with the linguist Noam Chomsky, who introduced the concepts to differentiate between the form of sentences and the more abstract, underlying meanings they convey.