Meaning & Definition of Phonology in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: The branch of linguistics that deals with the systematic organization of sounds in languages.

  Example Sentence: Phonology examines how sounds interact with each other in different languages.

• Definition: The abstract rules that govern the distribution and patterning of sounds in speech.

  Example Sentence: Understanding phonology is essential for distinguishing between similar-sounding words.

• Definition: A component of linguistic theory that addresses the phonetic characteristics and function of sounds in various contexts.

  Example Sentence: Phonology plays a critical role in language acquisition and processing.

Etymology

Origin: Derived from the Greek 'phonē' meaning 'sound' and 'logia' meaning 'study of'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• phonological rules: Rules that describe the predictable sound patterns in a language.
• phonological awareness: The ability to notice and manipulate sounds in spoken language.
• phonemic distinction: The ability to differentiate sounds that contribute to meaning.

Translations

• Spanish: fonología

• French: phonologie

• German: Phonologie

• Russian: фонология

Related Words

• phoneme: The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another.

• morpheme: The smallest grammatical unit in a language.

• allophone: One of two or more variants of the same phoneme.

Slang Meanings of phonology

• Meaning: Sound study

  Example Sentence: That class on sound study is all about phonology.

• Meaning: Sound rules

  Example Sentence: When we talk about sound rules in linguistics, we often refer back to phonology.