Phonological Rules

Phonological rules are patterns that govern how sounds function and change in a language. They explain why certain sounds may be pronounced differently depending on their context, such as their placement in a word or the sounds around them. For example, in English, the sound "t" in "cat" is pronounced clearly, while in "butter," it may sound like a soft "d" due to a rule known as flapping. These rules help us understand accents, dialects, and the overall structure of speech, showing how sounds interact in communication.