Question

The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language is called a:

• A. Morpheme
• B. Phoneme
• C. Syllable
• D. Grapheme

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Phoneme

• The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language is called a phoneme. 

• A phoneme is a basic sound unit that, when changed, can alter the meaning of a word.

• For example, the "p" sound in "pat" is a phoneme because changing it to "b" creates a different word, "bat". 

Key points about phonemes:

• Meaningful distinction: Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that can change the meaning of a word. 

• Language specific: Each language has its own set of phonemes. 

• Study of phonology: The study of phonemes within a language is called phonology.