phonotactics

Phonotactics is the study of the rules that govern how sounds can be combined in a particular language. It determines which sequences of consonants and vowels are permissible and which are not. For example, in English, the sound combination “ng” can appear at the end of words (like in "sing") but not at the beginning. These rules help shape the pronunciation and structure of words, contributing to what makes each language unique. Understanding phonotactics helps linguists analyze language patterns and can also aid in language learning.