Which term is used for the sounds of our language, which are loosely associated with the letters in our alphabet?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phonemes refer to the smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word, such as the difference between the /p/ sound in "pat" and the /b/ sound in "bat". Phonemes are loosely associated with the letters in our alphabet, but multiple letters can represent the same phoneme (such as /k/ in "cat" and "kite"). Morphemes refer to the smallest units of meaning in a language (such as "un-" meaning "not" and "-able" meaning "capable of"), syntax refers to the rules for creating sentences and phrases in a language, and extralinguistic information refers to nonverbal cues and context that aid in communication.

Which Term Is Used for the Sounds of Our Language