Phonology

What this page covers

The resources here are about how sounds work together in a language. Many set phonetics beside phonology: phonetics is the study of sounds and how they are produced, while phonology is the sound system of a language. Other resources look at phonemes and allophones, stops such as /p/ and /b/, syllables, phonotactics and the processes that change sounds in speech.

Where to start

Begin with the quiz Exam 2 Linguistics, which asks what separates phonetics from phonology. Then try OnlineQuiz Phonetics and Phonology, which covers phonotactics and the onset and rhyme structure of the syllable. If a question trips you up, check it against a flashcard deck.

• The deck on suprasegmental phonology works through syllables, onset, nucleus and coda.
• The deck on phonetics versus phonology compares units, transcription and meaning change.
• The deck Phonology Key Terms is a quick vocabulary check.

Using quizzes and maps together

Use a quiz first to see what you already know. Then open a mind map on the same idea. The IMPLICATIONAL LAWS map covers recurring phonological patterns, and the map Chapter 3:Phonology sets out the stop phonemes. There are also maps on the English syllable, laxing rules, and Scottish and Australian phonotactics. After reading, go back to the quiz and see what has stuck.

Where it sits

Phonology belongs to the Sound and Structure strand of Linguistics and philology. The resources were made by GoConqr users, so styles and depth vary. That variety is useful: if one explanation of the syllable does not work for you, another map or deck may.

Make it your own

Teachers can pull a quiz or deck straight into a lesson plan. Students can pick one resource today, then build a map or flashcards of their own from it.