Here's a breakdown:
* Alphabet: A collection of letters or symbols that represent the basic sounds of a language. Each letter or symbol usually corresponds to a single phoneme (a basic unit of sound).
* Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another in a language.
While "alphabet" is the most common term, here are some other terms related to representing sounds in language:
* Writing system: A more general term that encompasses all methods of writing, including alphabets, syllabaries, and logographic systems.
* Orthography: The conventions of spelling in a language. This includes the choice of letters, their pronunciation, and how they are combined to represent words.
* Phonological inventory: A list of all the phonemes in a language.
It's important to note that the relationship between symbols and sounds is not always one-to-one. Some languages have letters that represent multiple sounds, while others have multiple letters that represent the same sound. This is why studying the specific orthography of a language is important for understanding its pronunciation.