Phonemically: meaning, definitions and examples

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phonemically

[ fəˈnɛmɪkli ]

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linguistics term

Phonemically refers to the way in which a language's phonemes—or distinct units of sound—function within a particular linguistic context. This term is often used in contrast to 'phonetic', which focuses on the physical properties of sounds. Understanding phonemic structures is essential for grasping the rules of pronunciation in a language. Phonemically describes how sounds can affect meaning and how they are perceived by speakers of that language.

Synonyms

auditory, linguistic, phonetic

Examples of usage

The word is phonemically distinct from others.
Phonemically, the vowels are very important.
The analysis was done phonemically, focusing on sound patterns.
Compare the words phonemically to identify differences.

Translations

Translations of the word "phonemically" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fonemicamente

🇮🇳 स्वनिमिक रूप से

🇩🇪 phonemisch

🇮🇩 fonemik

🇺🇦 фонемічно

🇵🇱 fonemicznie

🇯🇵 音素的に (おんそてきに)

🇫🇷 phonémiquement

🇪🇸 fonémicamente

🇹🇷 fonemik olarak

🇰🇷 음소적으로

🇸🇦 صوتياً

🇨🇿 fonemicky

🇸🇰 fonematicky

🇨🇳 音位上 (yīnwèi shàng)

🇸🇮 fonemsko

🇮🇸 hljóðfræðilega

🇰🇿 фонемалық

🇬🇪 ფონემურად

🇦🇿 fonemik olaraq

🇲🇽 fonémicamente

Word origin

The term 'phonemically' is derived from the root word 'phoneme', which originates from the Greek word 'phonē', meaning 'voice' or 'sound'. The suffix '-ically' is used to convert the root into an adverb, indicating how something is done in relation to phonemes. The concept of phonemes emerged in the early 20th century with the development of modern linguistics, particularly influenced by the work of linguists such as Ferdinand de Saussure and later, Noam Chomsky. Understanding phonemes is crucial for the study of language, as they are the smallest units that can change meaning, thus making 'phonemically' a significant term in phonology, the study of sound systems in languages. As languages evolved, the recognition of phonemic distinctions became standard in linguistic analysis, emphasizing the role of sound in communication.