Which statement best describes phonology?

• A. Phonology studies the organization of phonemes in a language.
• B. Phonetics describes production, transmission, and perception of sounds.
• C. Phonemics studies spelling patterns.
• D. Articulation studies the speed of speech.

Answer: (A)

Phonology focuses on how sounds function within a language—the system of phonemes and the patterns that govern how they combine and contrast. This description matches phonology precisely, since it emphasizes the organization of phonemes in a language and the rules that shape their use.

Phonetics, by contrast, deals with the physical aspects of sounds—how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived—so it’s about the actual sound itself rather than the abstract system of contrasts. Phonemics is about how phonemes distinguish meaning, not about spelling patterns. Articulation looks at the motor production of speech sounds, not the speed of speech.