Phonology and Phonetics

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1.0 INTRODUCTION Phonetics and Phonology definition In the English language, syntax is associated with the formation of sentences while semantics is about the interpretation of sentences. Phonetics and phonology on the other hand is about how sentences are uttered. According to the online definition taken from the free dictionary website, phonetics is defined as the branch of linguistics that deals with the sounds of speech and their production, combination, description, and representation by written symbols. In addition, phonology as defined in the same website carries the meaning of the study of speech sounds in language or a language with reference to their distribution and patterning and to tacit rules governing pronunciation. Another online definition for phonetics taken from Merriam-Webster online referred phonetics to as the system of speech sounds of a language or group of languages whilst the definition for phonology taken from Merriam-Webster online is the science of speech sounds including especially the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages. Daniel (2010) in his research paper Introductory Phonetics and Phonology of English stated that phonetics is the description of speech sounds that exist scientifically while phonology is concerned with the regularities that dictates the awareness of sounds in words of a particular language. Thus, from the above definitions, Phonetics in my opinion is concerned with how sounds in a language are composed, broadcasted and recognized, more about the sounds of a language. Phonology on the other hand is how the different sounds of a language operates with each other, more to the sound systems of language. Segmental Features of Speech Definition Segmental comes from the root word segment. The word segment as defined online in dictionary.com is one of the parts into

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