What are the basic units of sound that compose the words in a language?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The basic units of sound that compose the words in a language are phonemes, which are distinct sound units that can change the meaning of a word (e.g. /b/ and /p/ are different phonemes that distinguish words like "bat" and "pat"). Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, while syntax refers to the rules governing the structure of sentences. Extralinguistic information refers to nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language, that can convey meaning alongside language but are not part of the linguistic system.

What Are the Basic Units of Sound That Compose the Words