Definition | Meaning
- The permissible combinations of the phonemes in a given language.
Example | Illustration
- ‘sl-’ (as in the Slurpee slushy soft drink) fits the English sound pattern and is not difficult for an English-speaker to pronunce
- ‘sb-’ (as in the Sbarro mall-based Italian restaurant chain) does not fit the English sound pattern and is therefore considered by English-speakers to be foreign and/or difficult to pronounce
Etymology | Origin
