What condition is characterized by inability to produce language despite understanding it?

The condition characterized by an inability to produce language despite having the ability to understand it is typically associated with Broca's aphasia, which is also referred to as expressive aphasia. In Broca's aphasia, individuals often understand spoken and written language well but struggle to form sentences and articulate their thoughts due to damage in the frontal lobe's Broca's area, which is responsible for language production.

While "expressive aphasia" is a term that specifically describes difficulties in expressing language while comprehension remains intact, it is usually synonymous with Broca's aphasia. Thus, the correct characterization for this condition aligns with the proper terminology used in medical contexts, and both terms reflect the same underlying clinical presentation.

Wernicke’s aphasia, on the other hand, involves a fluent but nonsensical production of speech and impaired comprehension, making it different from the condition described in the question. Receptive aphasia is another term often associated with Wernicke's aphasia, focusing on the inability to understand language.

In summary, the primary condition characterized by the ability to understand language while being unable to produce it is accurately identified with Broca's aphasia or expressive aphasia, demonstrating an important distinction in language processing disorders.