Phonemic: meaning, definitions and examples

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phonemic

[ fəˈnɛmɪk ]

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language study

Phonemic refers to the aspect of language that deals with the organization of sounds used in a particular language. It focuses on the phonemes, which are the smallest units of sound that distinguish meaning. In phonemic analysis, the emphasis is placed on how sounds function in various linguistic contexts and how they interact with each other. This concept is crucial in the field of linguistics, especially in phonology, where understanding the systematic patterns of sounds is essential for language comprehension.

Synonyms

articulatory, phonological, sound-related

Examples of usage

Phonemic awareness is essential for reading development.
The phonemic structure of English is quite complex.
She studied phonemic transcription for her linguistics course.

Translations

Translations of the word "phonemic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fonêmico

🇮🇳 ध्वन्यात्मक

🇩🇪 phonemisch

🇮🇩 fonemik

🇺🇦 фонемний

🇵🇱 fonemiczny

🇯🇵 音素的

🇫🇷 phonémique

🇪🇸 fonémico

🇹🇷 fonemik

🇰🇷 음소의

🇸🇦 صوتي

🇨🇿 fonémický

🇸🇰 fonémický

🇨🇳 音位的

🇸🇮 fonemičen

🇮🇸 hljóðkvísl

🇰🇿 фонемалық

🇬🇪 ფონემური

🇦🇿 fonemik

🇲🇽 fonémico

Word origin

The term 'phonemic' derives from the word 'phoneme', which was first introduced in the early 20th century. The concept of phonemes in linguistics was popularized by the work of Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist who laid the foundations for many modern linguistic theories. The suffix '-ic' is used to form adjectives indicating a relationship or pertaining to a subject, in this case, relating to the sounds of speech. Over time, phonemic analysis became a vital aspect of linguistic studies, especially in understanding how different languages utilize sound to convey meaning. The phonemic principle is now a cornerstone in teaching reading and language skills, underscoring its relevance in education and linguistics.