Phonology
/fəˈnɒlədʒi/noun
The study of the sound systems and sound patterns of human languages.
Did you know?Its first element descends from Greek phōnē, meaning “voice” or “sound,” a root also connected to words for fame, fate, and fable through the ancient idea of spoken power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“To speak or utter; a reconstructed root associated with producing speech”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phōnḗ (φωνή)
“Voice, sound, or utterance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-logía (λογία)
“The study, account, or systematic treatment of something”
19th Century
French
phonologie
“The systematic study of speech sounds; formed from Greek phōnḗ and -logía”
19th Century
English
phonology
“The study of the sound systems of languages”