Skip to main content
segmentally

segmentally

7.7
In a way that focuses on single speech sounds like consonants and vowels
  • adverb
  • /sɛɡˈmɛntəli/
  • Specialized
: segmentalmente
  • Phonological rules can be applied segmentally to analyze how consonants and vowels change.

Examples

  • The linguist examined the word segmentally to identify each individual sound.

  • The phonetic analysis was conducted segmentally.

  • Instead of looking at stress patterns, the teacher focused segmentally on the pronunciation of each letter.

  • She studies language segmentally to understand its structure.

  • The linguist examined the word segmentally to identify each individual sound.

  • Phonological rules can be applied segmentally to analyze how consonants and vowels change.

  • Instead of looking at stress patterns, the teacher focused segmentally on the pronunciation of each letter.

Synonyms

phonetically
vssegmentally
5 4.6

In a way that uses the sounds of words

focuses on individual speech sounds like consonants and vowels rather than broader sound features
phonically
vssegmentally
1 7.0

Using sound or speech to give information

focuses on individual speech sounds rather than general pronunciation or tone
phonemically
vssegmentally
  • Specialized
9.1

In a way that shows the small sounds that change the meaning of words in a language

focuses on each physical speech sound like consonants and vowels rather than distinctive units

Antonyms

4 5.4

Looking at all parts together

Surface Forms

segmentally positive

Morphology

segmentally = segmental (transparent) = segment + al + ly

Formed by regular adjective + adverb derivation (segment -> segmental -> segmentally); the phonetics-specific meaning is a direct application of 'segmental'.

Etymology

Segmentally comes from the old Latin word segmentum, from secare which means 'to cut'. Think of speech as a line you can cut into small pieces: each sound is a segment, so to look segmentally is to study each sound on its own.