Phonological rules are systematic transformations that explain how phonemes, the smallest units of sound, are realized as spoken sounds in specific linguistic contexts. These rules account for variations in pronunciation across different languages and dialects, reflecting underlying patterns of sound change and structure.

Phonological Rules

Phonological rules

systematic transformations

Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish words from one another, playing a crucial role in the phonological structure of language. Understanding phonemes is essential for grasping how sounds function to convey meaning and how they are perceived and processed in linguistic contexts.

phonemes

smallest units of sound

spoken sounds

linguistic contexts

variations in pronunciation

different languages

dialects

underlying patterns

Sound change refers to the systematic alteration of phonetic or phonological features of a language over time, affecting how words are pronounced. It is a fundamental process in historical linguistics that can lead to the emergence of new dialects and languages.

sound change

Sound Structure

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