Which term means two sentences that have the same meaning?

• A. Paraphrases
• B. Fossilization
• C. Contradiction
• D. Language performance

Answer: (A)

Paraphrase is when you restate the same idea using different words or structure while preserving the original meaning. For example, “The cat sat on the mat” and “On the mat, the cat sat” express the same idea even though the wording is rearranged. In ASL and language study, recognizing paraphrases helps show that meaning can be conveyed in multiple ways without changing the message. Fossilization describes language forms becoming fixed over time, not meaning equivalence. A contradiction occurs when two statements oppose each other, rather than share the same meaning. Language performance refers to actual language use, not the sameness of meaning between sentences.