UNDERSTANDING THE SEMANTIC FUNCTION OF SPEECH SOUNDS AND PHONEMES
Keywords:
phoneme, semantic variation, phonology, contextual cues, homophones, cultural connotations, intonation, language variation, phonotactics, linguistic semantics.Abstract
This article delves into the intricate relationship between speech sounds, phonemes, and semantic meaning within language. It explores the significance of phonemes as the smallest units of sound, capable of altering word meanings, exemplified by the contrast between words such as 'pat' and 'bat.' The author emphasizes the semantic variations in speech sounds, citing examples like intonation and tonal languages to showcase how nuances in sound convey different meanings. Additionally, the article examines the role of phonological rules in semantic interpretation, highlighting how phonotactics and sound arrangement influence word formation and meaning. Contextual cues are emphasized as crucial in disambiguating meaning, as seen with homophones and their reliance on context for interpretation. The text also touches on cultural implications, suggesting that phonemes may hold diverse connotations across different cultures.
