Phoneme

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Topic: "#Phoneme"
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Definition:
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A phoneme is the smallest
contrastive unit in the sound system
of a language.
(1)  #Discussion:
Phonologists have differing views of
the phoneme. Following are the two
major views considered here:
In the American structuralist
tradition, a phoneme is defined
according to
its allophones and environments
In the generative tradition,
a phoneme is defined as a set of
distinctive features.
Examples:
(English): Minimal pair
Here are examples of the
phonemes /r/ and /l/ occurring in
a minimal pair:
rip
lip
The phones [r] and [l] contrast in
identical environments and are
considered to be separate phonemes.
The phonemes /r/ and /l/ serve to
distinguish the word rip from the
word lip.
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(2) (English): #Distinctive features
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Here are examples of the English
phonemes /p/ and /i/ specified as
sets of distinctive features:
/p/ /i/
-syllabic +consonantal -sonorant
+anterior -coronal -voice -
continuant -nasal+syllabic -
consonantal +sonorant +high -low -
back -round +ATR -nasal
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(3) #Comparison Between Phone &
Phoneme
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"Phone"
A phone is … A phoneme is …
One of many
possible sounds
in the languages
of the world.
" Phoneme"
A contrastive unit
in the sound
system of a
particular
language.
" Phone"
Pronounced in a
defined way.
"Phoneme"
Pronounced in one
or more ways,
depending on the
number of
allophones.
"Phone"
Represented
between brackets
by convention.
Example: [b], [j],
[o]
"Phoneme"
Represented
between slashes
by convention.
Example: /b/, /j/, /
o/
" Phone"
The smallest
identifiable unit
found in a stream
of speech.
" Phoneme"
A minimal unit
that serves to
distinguish
between meanings
of words
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