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Phonologist: meaning, definitions and examples

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phonologist

 

[ fəˈnɒlədʒɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

field of study

A phonologist is a linguist who specializes in the study of phonology, which is the branch of linguistics concerned with the systematic organization of sounds in languages. Phonologists analyze the sound systems of languages, identifying patterns and structures. They often examine how sounds function and how they are perceived in speech. Their work involves understanding both the abstract theoretical aspects of sound patterns and their practical implications in real-world language use.

Synonyms

language scientist, linguist, sound analyst

Examples of usage

  • The phonologist studied the unique sound patterns of the indigenous language.
  • In her research, the phonologist focused on vowel shifts in different dialects.
  • The phonologist gave a lecture on the importance of tone in Mandarin.
  • Many phonologists collaborate with speech therapists to enhance communication.
  • The phonologist's findings contributed to our understanding of language acquisition.

Translations

Translations of the word "phonologist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fonólogo

🇮🇳 ध्वनि विज्ञान विशेषज्ञ

🇩🇪 Phonologe

🇮🇩 fonolog

🇺🇦 фонолог

🇵🇱 fonolog

🇯🇵 音韻論者

🇫🇷 phonologue

🇪🇸 fonólogo

🇹🇷 fonolog

🇰🇷 음운학자

🇸🇦 عالم الأصوات

🇨🇿 fonolog

🇸🇰 fonológ

🇨🇳 音位学家

🇸🇮 fonolog

🇮🇸 hljóðfræði

🇰🇿 фонолог

🇬🇪 ფონოლოგი

🇦🇿 fonoloq

🇲🇽 fonólogo

Word origin

The term 'phonologist' derives from the word 'phonology', which was coined in the early 20th century. Phonology itself comes from the Greek words 'phone', meaning 'sound', and 'logos', meaning 'study' or 'discourse'. The field of phonology emerged as researchers began to differentiate between the physical properties of sounds (phonetics) and their abstract, cognitive organization within languages. The development of phonology as a distinct field was significantly influenced by the work of linguists such as Otto Jespersen and Roman Jakobson. Over time, phonologists have developed various theories and models to explain sound patterns, including distinctive features and rule-based approaches, contributing to our understanding of language structure and function.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,477, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.