Which statement best describes phonology?

• A. It governs sound combinations in a language
• B. It studies the meanings of words
• C. It describes how language is used in social contexts
• D. It analyzes sentence structure

Answer: (A)

Phonology is about the sound system of a language—how sounds are organized in the mind and the rules that govern which sound sequences are allowed. It includes the inventory of distinct sounds (phonemes) and how they can combine, context-driven changes, and patterns that help distinguish meanings through sound. That idea of governing which sound combinations can occur in a language is exactly what phonology addresses.

By contrast, meanings of words relate to semantics, using language in social contexts ties to pragmatics or sociolinguistics, and sentence structure is the domain of syntax. So the statement about sound combinations best captures what phonology is all about.