phonotactics
[ foh-nuh-tak-tiks ]
/ ˌfoʊ nəˈtæk tɪks /
noun (used with a singular verb) Linguistics.
the patterns in which the phonemes of a language may combine to form sequences.
the study and description of such patterns.
Origin of phonotactics
First recorded in 1955–60; see origin at
phonotactic,
-ics
Words nearby phonotactics
phonoreception,
phonoreceptor,
phonorenogram,
phonoscope,
phonotactic,
phonotactics,
phonotype,
phonotypy,
phony,
phony disease,
phony war
British Dictionary definitions for phonotactics
phonotactics
/ (ˈfəʊnəʊˌtæktɪks) /
noun
(functioning as singular) linguistics
the study of the possible arrangement of the sounds of a language in the words of that language
Word Origin for phonotactics
C20: from
phono- +
-tactics, on the model of
syntactic; see
syntax