phonemics
Speech sound study
Phonemics is the study of phonemes—the distinct units of sound that distinguish one word from another in a given language.
Where phonetics examines the physical properties of all speech sounds, phonemics focuses on which sound differences carry meaning: in English, the difference between /p/ and /b/ matters (pin versus bin), while subtle variations in how you pronounce /p/ do not.
Positional sound variants
- distinctive featuresIdentifying traits or qualities
- contrastiveShowing opposition or difference
- segmentationDivision into sections
- neutralizationCanceling opposing forces
Study of speech sounds
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- structuralismAnalysis through underlying systems
Manner of speaking words
- articulationClear vocal expression
- accentRegional speech pattern
- dictionChoice of words
- enunciationClarity of spoken words
utterance · vocalization · spoken language · dialect · idiolect
Letters with unblocked airflow
- consonantsLetters that aren't vowels
- voicingExpressing aloud
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- nasalityNose-resonant voice quality
pitch · articulation · acoustic · auditory · syllable · manner of articulation · plosives · fricatives
Non-distinctive sound variation
- segmentalDivided into sections
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
- syllabificationDivision into spoken units
- assimilationAbsorbing into a whole
dissimilation · elision · stress patterns · intonation · tone · metathesis · nasalization · gemination
Sound notation system
- alphabetLanguage's letter system
- graphemesUnits of writing systems
- notationSystem of written symbols
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
diacritics · broad transcription · narrow transcription · romanization · transliteration · brackets · slashes · phonetic alphabet
allophones
Positional sound variants
- distinctive featuresIdentifying traits or qualities
- contrastiveShowing opposition or difference
- segmentationDivision into sections
phonetics
Study of speech sounds
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
pronunciation
Manner of speaking words
- articulationClear vocal expression
- accentRegional speech pattern
- dictionChoice of words
enunciation · utterance · vocalization · spoken language · dialect · idiolect
vowels
Letters with unblocked airflow
- consonantsLetters that aren't vowels
- voicingExpressing aloud
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
nasality · pitch · articulation · acoustic · auditory · syllable · manner of articulation · plosives · fricatives · glides
allophone
Non-distinctive sound variation
- segmentalDivided into sections
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
- syllabificationDivision into spoken units
assimilation · dissimilation · elision · stress patterns · intonation · tone · metathesis · nasalization · gemination
IPA
Sound notation system
symbols · diacritics · broad transcription · narrow transcription · romanization · transliteration · brackets · slashes · phonetic alphabet · encoding
phonemicssemantics
Study of linguistic meaning
morphology · syntax · lexicology · pragmatics