What condition is characterized by an inability to understand language?

Wernicke's aphasia is characterized by an inability to comprehend language despite the ability to produce fluent speech. Individuals with this condition often speak in long, rambling sentences that may lack meaningful content, and they have difficulty understanding spoken or written language. This type of aphasia results from damage to the Wernicke's area of the brain, typically located in the left hemisphere, which is responsible for language comprehension.

In contrast, other types of aphasia, such as Broca's aphasia, primarily involve difficulty with speech production, where individuals can understand language but struggle to form grammatically correct sentences. Conductive aphasia is characterized by difficulties in repeating phrases, often caused by a disconnect between language comprehension and production areas in the brain. Global aphasia encompasses severe impairments in both comprehension and production of language, affecting multiple language functions. However, Wernicke's aphasia specifically highlights the lack of understanding, making it the correct answer to this question.