
Phonology
Sound Patterns
Phonology analyzes how sounds form patterns and rules in a language, going beyond individual sounds.
Phonology examines why 's' sounds different in 'sit' and 'this'.
Language Variation
Phonology can vary within a language, explaining accents and dialects that have different sounds.
American and British English have phonological differences that affect pronunciation.
Sounds and Meaning
Understanding phonology helps in recognizing how sound changes can lead to changes in meaning.
In phonology, swapping 'p' for 'b' in 'pat' makes 'bat', altering meaning.