Anthropology Practice Test 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success

Phonology is the branch of linguistics focused on the systematic organization of sounds in a particular language or languages. It investigates how sounds function and how they are used to convey meaning in spoken language. This includes examining the rules governing the combination and pronunciation of phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish meaning.

Understanding phonology is crucial because it provides insights into how different languages use sounds in distinct ways and how these sounds interact with each other in speech. Phonology is not about the meanings of words (which is the domain of semantics), sentence structure and grammar (which are covered by syntax), or the cultural significance of language (which falls under sociolinguistics or anthropological linguistics). Instead, its primary focus is on the mechanics of sound and the patterns they create within spoken language.