Which subfield studies how sounds are organized and used in language?

• A. Morphology
• B. Phonology
• C. Semantics
• D. Pragmatics

Answer: (B)

Phonology studies how sounds are organized and used in language. This field looks at the abstract system of sounds—phonemes—and the rules that govern their arrangement, combination, and variation across languages. It explains why certain sound sequences are allowed or disallowed (phonotactics), how sounds can change in different contexts (such as assimilation or allophony), and how the sound system helps distinguish meaning in a language. While phonetics would examine the physical properties of speech sounds, phonology focuses on the mental organization and patterning of those sounds within a language. The other options address word structure (morphology), meaning (semantics), and language use in context (pragmatics), none of which specifically tackle how sounds function and are structured in language.