Symbolic interactionism is to social reality as a language is to _____.

Symbolic interactionism is a way to understand how people create social reality through their interactions and the meanings they attach to things. Just like language is a system of symbols that allows us to communicate and share ideas, symbolic interactionism shows how symbols in society—like gestures, words, and objects—shape our understanding of the world around us. For example, when a child sees a dog and learns to associate it with the word "dog," they start to understand what a dog is and how to interact with one. Similarly, in society, when people agree on the meaning of symbols, like a flag representing a nation, they create a shared social reality. Therefore, symbolic interactionism is to social reality as language is to communication, both essential for making sense of our experiences.