Phonemes
* Definition: The smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language.
* Function: They are the building blocks of words. Changing a phoneme changes the word itself.
* Example: The words "cat" and "bat" differ by only one phoneme, the initial consonant sound (/k/ vs. /b/).
* Key Characteristics:
* Distinctive: They create meaningful differences.
* Abstract: They are not physical sounds but rather mental representations of sounds.
* Minimal Pairs: Words that differ by only one phoneme are called minimal pairs (e.g., "cat" and "bat").
Allomorphs
* Definition: Variations of a morpheme (the smallest meaningful unit in a language) that have the same meaning but differ in pronunciation.
* Function: They are variations within a morpheme.
* Example: The plural morpheme "-s" has multiple allomorphs:
* /s/ as in "cats"
* /z/ as in "dogs"
* /əz/ as in "buses"
* Key Characteristics:
* Same Meaning: Allomorphs represent the same concept.
* Different Pronunciation: The way they are pronounced changes depending on the context.
* Phonetic Environment: The allomorph used is often determined by the sounds surrounding the morpheme.
In Summary:
* Phonemes are the fundamental sounds of a language that create meaning.
* Allomorphs are variations of a morpheme that have the same meaning but differ in pronunciation due to phonetic context.
Think of it this way:
* Phoneme: Like building blocks, they are the fundamental units you use to create words.
* Allomorph: Like different versions of the same building block (a block that's red, blue, or green, but all still blocks). They might look different, but they serve the same purpose in a word.