Languages I / What Linguistics Studies
Practice question · Match the pairs

Match each level of analysis to its basic unit.

  • Phonetics
  • Phonology
  • Morphology
  • Syntax
  • Semantics
  • The contrast that distinguishes words
  • The arrangement of words in a sentence
  • The meaningful part of a word
  • Literal meaning, out of context
  • The speech sound as a physical event
Hints
  1. Two levels concern sound and differ in whether the language cares about the difference.
  2. One level is about parts of words, one about arrangements of words.
Show the answer
  • Phonetics → The speech sound as a physical event
  • Phonology → The contrast that distinguishes words
  • Morphology → The meaningful part of a word
  • Syntax → The arrangement of words in a sentence
  • Semantics → Literal meaning, out of context
Why

Pairing each level with its unit is the fastest way to keep them apart. The phonetics/phonology pair is the one worth rehearsing: two sounds can be physically different and phonologically identical, which is the whole subject of the second unit of this course.

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