What do we call the smallest distinctive sound units in language?
a. Structure
b. Morphemes
c. Grammar
d. Phonemes
e. Thought
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
d. Phonemes
Explanation:
Phonemes are the smallest distinctive sound units in a language. They do not carry meaning by themselves, but they serve to distinguish one word from another. For example, in English, the words bat and pat differ by only one phoneme: /b/ and /p/. This small change in sound creates a completely different word.
Every language has its own set of phonemes. English, for instance, has about 44 phonemes, while other languages may have more or fewer. Some languages, such as Hawaiian, have relatively few phonemes, whereas languages like !Xóõ (a language spoken in Botswana) have many.
Phonemes are classified into two main types:
- Vowel phonemes – These are sounds produced without significant constriction of airflow (e.g., /a/, /e/, /i/).
- Consonant phonemes – These involve some restriction or closure of the vocal tract (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/).
It is important to note that phonemes are not the same as letters. A single phoneme can be represented by different letters or combinations of letters. For example, the phoneme /f/ can be spelled as f (fish) or ph (phone).
Phonemes play a crucial role in speech perception and language learning. If a speaker cannot distinguish between certain phonemes in a language, it may affect their ability to understand and produce words accurately. This is why learning phonemes is a key part of acquiring a new language.
In contrast to phonemes, morphemes (option b) are the smallest units of meaning, such as un- in unhappy or -ed in walked. Grammar (option c) refers to the rules that govern language structure.