phonotactics

[ foh-nuh-tak-tiks ]

noun(used with a singular verb)Linguistics.
  1. the patterns in which the phonemes of a language may combine to form sequences.

  2. the study and description of such patterns.

Origin of phonotactics

1
First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at phonotactic, -ics

Words Nearby phonotactics

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British Dictionary definitions for phonotactics

phonotactics

/ (ˈfəʊnəʊˌtæktɪks) /


noun
  1. (functioning as singular) linguistics the study of the possible arrangement of the sounds of a language in the words of that language

Origin of phonotactics

1
C20: from phono- + -tactics, on the model of syntactic; see syntax

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