phoneme - Definition & Meaning

the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, often represented by a specific symbol in phonetic notationthe smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, often represented by a specific symbol in phonetic notation

A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning. It is a basic building block of speech and can be a single sound or a group of sounds that represent a specific letter or combination of letters. For example, in English, the words "bat" and "pat" differ by one phoneme, the initial sounds /b/ and /p/. Phonemes are important in phonetics and linguistics because they help define the sounds used in a language, contributing to pronunciation and the overall structure of words.A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning. It is a basic building block of speech and can be a single sound or a group of sounds that represent a specific letter or combination of letters. For example, in English, the words "bat" and "pat" differ by one phoneme, the initial sounds /b/ and /p/. Phonemes are important in phonetics and linguistics because they help define the sounds used in a language, contributing to pronunciation and the overall structure of words.

例句

In linguistics, a phoneme is the smallest distinctive sound unit in a language that can change the meaning of a word.
在语言学中，音素是一种语言中可以改变单词意义的最小区别性声音单位。
For example, in English, the phonemes /p/ and /b/ are distinct because they can change the meaning of words like "pat" and "bat."
例如，在英语中，音素 /p/ 和 /b/ 是不同的，因为它们可以改变像“pat”和“bat”这样的单词的意思。
Phonemes are abstract units that are realized as various allophones in different phonetic contexts.
音位是抽象的单位，在不同的语音环境中实现为各种音位变体。