allophones
Same phoneme, different
Allophones are variant pronunciations of the same speech sound that don't change meaning.
In English, the "p" in "pin" (with a puff of air) and "spin" (without) are allophones—native speakers hear them as the same sound, though they're physically different.
The term comes from linguistics, where it helps explain why speakers of different languages hear sounds differently.
phonology
Minimal sound distinctions
- free variationInterchangeable linguistic variants
- distinctive featuresIdentifying traits or qualities
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
- assimilationAbsorbing into a whole
articulation
Strong desire for achievement
- nasalizationSound routed through nostrils
- flappingRapid wing motion
- voicingExpressing aloud
- spirantizationConsonant becoming fricative
transcription
Sound notation system
- narrow transcriptionDetailed phonetic spelling system
- broad transcriptionRough phonetic representation
- diacriticsMarks altering letter pronunciation
- tildeWavy diacritical mark
phonemes
Minimal sound distinctions
- free variationInterchangeable linguistic variants
- distinctive featuresIdentifying traits or qualities
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
- nasalizationSound routed through nostrils
- flappingRapid wing motion
- voicingExpressing aloud
IPA
Sound notation system
- narrow transcriptionDetailed phonetic spelling system
- broad transcriptionRough phonetic representation
- diacriticsMarks altering letter pronunciation
tilde · spectrogram · waveform
rounded vowels
Vowels with lip protrusion
- schwaNeutral unstressed vowel