Phonology: Crash Course Linguistics #10
CrashCourse

Phonology: Crash Course Linguistics #10

B1IntermediateNovember 8, 202617 min
  • Language lesson
  • Language learning

All of the sounds or handshapes in a language can be pronounced differently depending on the context, but in different languages, these differences may be significant, or not. The study of these patterns and variations is known as phonology. In this episode of Crash Course Linguistics, we’ll learn all about phonology and the different phonological systems we see in different languages, and we’ll begin to retrain our brains in order to gain a better understanding and appreciation for phonological patterns. Want even more linguistics? Check out the Lingthusiasm podcast, hosted by the writers of Crash Cour...

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Could you get me a glass of water?

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A1 13%A2 46%B1 29%B2 11%C1 1%
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  • 51 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

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0:00

Hi, I'm Taylor and welcome to Crash Course Linguistics. Could you get me a glass of water? What if I asked you for washer? Like some people, but certainly not me, pronounce it.

0:10

For other people, that T in the middle of the word can become wa-uh. Our brains treat these different sounds as equivalent. It's still liquid H2O, whether you pronounce it water, washer, or wa-uh. This isn't just true for T. All of the sounds or hand shapes of a language can

0:28

be produced differently depending on the context. Different languages and accents have their own variation. These patterns and the study of them is known as phonology. When we first start to pay attention to phonology, it's like trying to see the trick in an

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