What are phonemes?
A) the rules by which deep structure is translated into surface structure
B) regional differences in dialect
C) syntactical structures that distinguish passive constructions from active ones
D) the minimal sound contrasts that distinguish meaning in a language
E) electromagnetic signals that carry messages between speakers in a telephone conversation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phonemes are the smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word. They are minimal sound contrasts that distinguish meaning in a language. For example, in English, the phonemes /p/ and /b/ are different sounds that can change the meaning of a word, such as "pat" and "bat".

What Are Phonemes