Phonemes:
* Definition: The smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another.
* Focus: Sound. They are the building blocks of spoken language.
* Example: The word "cat" has three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, /t/. The difference between "cat" and "cot" is just one phoneme: /æ/ vs. /ɒ/.
* Number: Languages have a limited number of phonemes, typically ranging from 20 to 80.
* Meaning: Phonemes themselves do not have meaning. They are just sounds.
Morphemes:
* Definition: The smallest unit of meaning in a language.
* Focus: Meaning. They are the building blocks of words.
* Example: The word "unbreakable" has three morphemes: "un-" (meaning "not"), "break" (meaning "to break"), and "-able" (meaning "capable of being").
* Number: There are potentially thousands of morphemes in a language.
* Meaning: Morphemes have meaning, and they can be combined to create new words.
In summary:
* Phonemes are sounds, morphemes are meanings.
* Phonemes are the building blocks of spoken words, morphemes are the building blocks of words themselves.
* Phonemes are smaller than morphemes.
Here's a simple analogy:
Think of a LEGO set.
* Phonemes are like the individual LEGO bricks. They can be combined to create larger structures, but they don't have any inherent meaning on their own.
* Morphemes are like the LEGO pieces that have a specific function, like a window, a door, or a wheel. These pieces can be combined to build more complex structures and have specific meanings.