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Glite Dictionary
phonology

phonology

1 8.7
The study of how a language uses and organizes sounds
  • noun
  • /fəˈnɑlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fonología
  • Languages differ on a multitude of structural levels, including phonology, morphology, and syntax.
  • phonology and morphology
  • phonology and syntax
  • phonology and orthography

Currently, phonology, sounding our words, is often taught to the relative exclusion of other elements of reading.

Examples

  • In phonology, we study how different sounds can change the meaning of words in a language.

  • Thus, additional information is needed regarding the unique influence of phonology, orthography, morphology, and vocabulary on the early stages of literacy development.

    Academic text (2013)

  • And can anyone tell me what phonology is?

    Still Alice (2014)

  • Another treatment adjunct is the teaching of functional words in addition to direct work on phonology.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Much of the research in foreign languages has focused on linguistics and the systematic study of phonology.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Currently, phonology, sounding our words, is often taught to the relative exclusion of other elements of reading.

    YaleCourses

  • Children may have fewer opportunities for incidental learning of phonology in heterogeneous groups.

    Academic text (2013)

  • "Phono" is from the Greek word "phoné," meaning "sound"... and phonology, broadly speaking, is the study of the sounds of language.

    Still Alice (2014)

  • Children's speech was assessed using the Phonology subtest from the DEAP (Dodd, Hua, Crosbie, Holm, & Ozanne, 2002).

    Academic text (2015)

  • Understanding phonology is essential for language learners, as it helps them pronounce words correctly.

Synonyms

phonemics
vsphonology
  • Specialized
8.4

Study of the sounds a language uses and how they change meaning

is broader and treats overall sound organization across languages rather than only phoneme study

Surface Forms

phonology singular
phonologies plural

Morphology

phonology = phon + ology

The word is built from the combining form phon- 'sound' and the suffix -ology 'study of', but the specialized technical sense is not fully predictable for a general learner.

Etymology

Phonology comes from the Greek part phon- meaning 'sound' or 'voice' and the ending -logy meaning 'study'. You can see the same phon- in phone and phonics, so phonology is the 'study' of the sounds of language, which explains why it looks at how speech sounds work.