Phoneme

Phoneme

A Phoneme is one of the units of sound that distinguish one word from another in a particular language. The concept of phoneme originated in the mid 19th century, and it is a fundamental element in the field of Phonetics and Phonology.

Definition[edit | edit source]

The term Phoneme is derived from the Greek word phōnēma, meaning "voice" or "sound". In Linguistics, a phoneme is the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another. For example, in English, the sounds /p/ and /b/ are distinct phonemes because they distinguish words like "pat" and "bat".

Types of Phonemes[edit | edit source]

There are three main types of phonemes: consonant phonemes, vowel phonemes, and suprasegmental phonemes.

Consonant Phonemes[edit | edit source]

Consonant phonemes are produced by obstructing the airflow in some way, such as by closing the lips or touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth.

Vowel Phonemes[edit | edit source]

Vowel phonemes are produced with an open vocal tract, allowing the air to flow freely.

Suprasegmental Phonemes[edit | edit source]

Suprasegmental phonemes, also known as prosodic features, include elements such as stress, tone, and intonation, which can also distinguish words in some languages.

Phoneme in Different Languages[edit | edit source]

The number and nature of phonemes can vary significantly between languages. For example, English has approximately 44 phonemes, while Hawaiian has only 13.

References[edit | edit source]

Phoneme Resources
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