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Segmental: meaning, definitions and examples

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segmental

 

[ ˈsɛɡmɛnˌtəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

linguistic context

Segmental refers to the aspects of language that relate to discrete, separable units such as phonemes, morphemes, and words. It's often contrasted with suprasegmental features, which pertain to the properties that extend over several segments, like intonation or stress patterns.

Synonyms

discrete, individual, separable

Examples of usage

  • The segmental nature of speech sounds helps in phonetic analysis.
  • In segmental analysis, phonemes are treated as individual units.
  • Linguists often focus on segmental features in their phonology studies.

Etymology

The term 'segmental' derives from the Latin word 'segmentum', meaning 'a piece cut off' or 'a section'. This etymological root is significantly tied to the concept of dividing a whole into smaller parts, which resonates with its application in linguistics where language is analyzed into smaller sound units. The use of 'segmental' in this specific linguistic sense began to emerge in the early 20th century, particularly with the advancements in phonetics and phonology. Linguists sought to understand the structure of language at a granular level, leading to a greater focus on these discrete units. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass various disciplines, including psychology and computer science, especially in the realms of speech processing and analysis.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,666, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.