A phoneme is a minimal unit of articulation whose sound can be vowel or consonant. The union or concatenation of phonemes produces morphemes . For example: /a/, /g/.
Each letter is a phoneme, which is in turn written between graphemes, i.e., diagonal lines that enclose a letter. For example: /b/ .
The combination of these phonemes results in morphemes (minimal units of meaning). These, in turn, form the word.
phoneme + phoneme = morpheme
morpheme + morpheme = word
- See also: Morphemes and lexemes
Characteristics of a phoneme
- It is indivisible.
- It has no meaning of its own.
- It can respond to different graphemes. For example, the grapheme /B/ comprises the phonemesB, V, vy b.
Types of phonemes
- Consonant phonemes. These are consonant letters that require a sonorous letter (vowel) to form morphemes. The following are consonant phonemes:/B/, /C/, /D/, /F/, /G/, /H/, /J/, /K/, /L/, /M/, /N/, /Ñ/, /P/, /Q/, /R/, /S/, /T/, /V/, /W/, /X/, /Y/, /Z/.
- Vowel phonemes. These are vowel letters, which can be used in isolation or accompanied by consonants to form morphemes. Vowel phonemes are:/A/, /E/, /I/, /O/, /U/.
Types of consonant phonemes
According to the position of the mouth organs
- Bilabial. The two lips touch. For example: /p/, /b/, /m/.
- Labiodental. The lower lip touches the upper teeth of the mouth. For example: /f/.
- Interdental. The tongue is located between the teeth. For example: /z/, /c/.
- Dental. In this case, the tongue is located behind the upper teeth. For example: /t/, /d/.
- Alveolar. The tongue should be positioned over the roots of the upper teeth. For example: /s/, /l/, /r/, /rr/, /n/.
- Palatal. The tongue hits the palate. For example: /ch/, /ll/, /ñ/, /y/.
- Velar. The tongue should be placed over the soft palate. For example: /k/, /g/, /j/.
According to the mode of articulation
- Occlusive. The mouth remains closed temporarily or completely. For example: /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/
- Fricative. The air enters the mouth and brushes past, producing the sound. For example: /f/, /z/, /j/, /y/, /s/
- Affricate. The sound is produced by occlusion and then friction. For example: /ch/
- Lateral. Air enters and touches the sides of the mouth cavity. For example: /l/, /ll/
- Vibrant. The air enters and makes a small vibration of the tip of the tongue as it passes. For example: /rr/, /r/
- Nasal. This occurs when some air escapes through the nostrils. For example: /m/, /n/, /ñ/
According to the sound they produce
- Deaf. There is no vibration of the vocal cords. For example: /p/, /t/, /ch/, /k/, /z/, /s/, /j/, /f/
- Voiced. Sound is produced by the vibration of the vocal cords. For example: /b/, /d/, /g/, /y/, /m/, /n/, /ñ/, /l/, /ll/, /r/, /rr/
Types of vowel phonemes
According to the point of articulation
- Anterior zone. For example: /e/, /i/
- Central area. For example: /a/
- Posterior zone. For example: /o/, /u/
According to the mode of articulation
- Open. For example: /a/
- Semi-open. For example: /e/, /o/
- Closed. For example: /i/, /u/
Examples of phonemes
Consonant phonemes
According to its articulation
BILABIAL
- Mother
- Dog
- Skate
- Ball
- Hose
- Boat
- Vessel
Lipodental
- Completion
- Financing
- End
- Fable
INTERDENTAL
- Cinto
- Zapallo
- Ashes
- Fox
DENTAL
- Tooth
- Train
- Dedal
- Maid
- Tram
- Transport
ALVEOLAR
- Nene
- Dog
- Sun
- Moon
- Lizard
- Rat
- Child
- Natal
PALATAL
- Andugo
- Chili
- Chop
- Rain
- Andgrass
WATCH
- Guide
- Kilogram
- Cat
- Worm
- Giraffe
- Fair
According to the mode of articulation
OCCLUSIVE
- Grief
- Store
- Given
- Duchess
-
- I break you
FRICATIVE
- Chair
- Armchair
- Zoquete
- Wild boar
AFFRICATE
- Chocolate
- Chimney
- Cu cha
- Spoon
SIDE
- Calls
- Parrot
- Theentity
- Thesheep
VIBRANT
- Route
- Door
- Per tig
- Rama
- Spoil
- Ruin
NASAL
- Ña n dú
- Gnocchi
- Tomorrow
- Spring
Vowel phonemes
According to the point of articulation
PREVIOUS AREA
- Elephant
- Church
CENTRAL ZONE
- Store
- L at a
REAR AREA
- Useful
- ors or
According to the mode of articulation
OPEN
- Car
- Cupboard
SEMI-OPEN
- Orstra
- Star
- Estr o fa
CLOSED
- Illusion
- Grapes
