Phonetically: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in contexts where you're discussing the sounds of speech. Phonetically refers to the pronunciation based on sound.

• She spelled the word phonetically.
• Phonetically, the words 'knight' and 'night' are the same.

Utilized in discussions about phonemes, the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish words. This term is more technical and specific.

• Phonemically, 'bit' and 'pit' differ by just one sound.
• The difference is more phonemically significant than phonetically.

This is used in academic or detailed discussions about language and its structure, function, and use. It refers to anything related to the study of language.

• Linguistically, this sentence is interesting because it has a rare syntactic structure.
• She analyzed the text linguistically and found many hidden meanings.

Use when discussing how words sound when pronounced, especially in terms of their sounds and patterns in language learning and linguistics.

• She wrote out the foreign words phonetically so she could pronounce them more easily.
• The word is spelled the same way phonetically in different dialects.

Use when referring to the abstract, mental representation of sounds in a language that distinguish word meanings, often in linguistic studies.

• The difference between 'bat' and 'pat' is a phonemic contrast in English.
• Phonemic awareness is crucial for learning to read.

Use when talking about the physical process of producing speech sounds, involving the movement of lips, tongue, and vocal chords.

• The articulatory position of the tongue affects the pronunciation of vowel sounds.
• Articulatory exercises can help children with speech difficulties.

This word is often used when referring to how words sound or are represented by sounds in speech. It is useful in linguistic studies or when learning a new language.

• The word 'knight' is phonetically different from how it is spelled.
• She tried to pronounce the Spanish words phonetically.

This word is used in linguistics to discuss the abstract, mental representations of sounds that distinguish meaning in a particular language. Phonemic contrasts play a critical role in language comprehension and communication.

• In English, the difference between 'bat' and 'pat' is phonemic.
• Phonemic awareness is essential for learning to read.

This term is used when discussing the physical aspects of how speech sounds are produced by the movement of the tongue, lips, and other speech organs. It is common in the field of phonetics and speech pathology.

• An articulatory description of the sound ‘t' includes that the tongue touches the upper teeth.
• Articulatory exercises can help in improving speech clarity.