Languages differ:
A) in how the users describe phonological knowledge.
B) both in the sounds that they use and in how the sounds are used.
C) according to acoustic signals.
D) according to distinctive features of phonemes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Languages differ not only in the particular sounds that they use, but also in how those sounds are used to differentiate meaning. Phonology involves the study of the sound systems of languages, and it includes the study of phonemes, distinctive features of sounds that can change the meaning of a word. While languages may differ in how they describe their phonological systems, it is the differences in the sounds and their use that are the most fundamental. Acoustic signals may be used to analyze and compare different speech sounds, but they do not constitute the differences between languages in and of themselves.

Languages Differ