Phonology is the study of what?

Phonology is the study of what?

• A. Meanings of words
• B. Sounds
• C. Sentence structure
• D. Language origins

Answer: (B)

Phonology studies the sound system of a language—the set of distinct sounds (phonemes) and the rules for how they pattern and interact. It looks at how sounds distinguish meaning, which sounds can occur together, and how sounds change in different contexts. This is different from studying meanings of words (semantics), how sentences are put together (syntax), or where a language comes from (history/etymology). For example, the contrast between bat and pat shows how different sounds can change meaning, a core idea in phonology. So the option about sounds is the best fit.

Phonology studies the sound system of a language—the set of distinct sounds (phonemes) and the rules for how they pattern and interact. It looks at how sounds distinguish meaning, which sounds can occur together, and how sounds change in different contexts. This is different from studying meanings of words (semantics), how sentences are put together (syntax), or where a language comes from (history/etymology). For example, the contrast between bat and pat shows how different sounds can change meaning, a core idea in phonology. So the option about sounds is the best fit.