What is the smallest unit of speech that affects the meaning of
what people say?
A. Phoneme
B. Syllable
C. Word
D. Sentence
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Phoneme.
A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another. For example, in English, the words “bat” and “pat” differ only in their initial sounds, represented by the phonemes /b/ and /p/. This distinction in sound changes the meaning of the words entirely, illustrating the crucial role phonemes play in communication.
Phonemes can be thought of as the building blocks of speech. They do not carry meaning by themselves but combine in various ways to form larger units of meaning, such as syllables and words. A syllable is a unit of sound that typically contains a vowel sound, and words are made up of one or more syllables. For instance, the word “cat” consists of one syllable and three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, and /t/.
While words and sentences convey meaning, they rely on the correct arrangement and pronunciation of phonemes to be understood. Mispronouncing or altering a single phoneme can lead to misunderstandings. For example, if someone says “slip” instead of “ship,” it can cause confusion because the meanings of these words are entirely different, despite having similar sounds.
In summary, phonemes are fundamental to language because they form the basis for distinguishing meaning in spoken communication. Without a precise understanding of phonemes, speech would lose its clarity and the ability to convey specific ideas. This foundational aspect of phonology highlights the intricate relationship between sound and meaning in human language.