What is the basic unit of sound in language?

• A. Asimilasyon
• B. Pag-aangkop
• C. Pagpapalit
• D. Ponema

Answer: (D)

Ponema (phoneme) is the basic unit of sound in language. It is the smallest sound unit that can change meaning when swapped for another sound. For example, changing the sound /p/ to /b/ can turn one word into a different word, showing that those sounds belong to different phonemes in the language. Phonemes are abstract categories; the actual sounds you pronounce can vary as allophones depending on context without changing the meaning. The other terms describe sound changes or adjustments that happen in pronunciation, not the fundamental building blocks themselves.