What does Phonology govern in a language?

Phonology is the branch of linguistics that deals with the systematic organization of sounds in languages. It focuses specifically on the way sounds function and pattern in particular languages, as well as the rules that govern their pronunciation and interaction. By addressing the sound system, phonology involves not only individual sounds (phonemes) but also how these sounds can be combined to form syllables and words, and how they change in different contexts within speech.

For instance, phonological rules help explain why certain sounds may change depending on their position in a word or following other sounds. This encompasses aspects like stress patterns, intonation, and the overall rhythm of speech. Understanding phonology is essential for analyzing how meaning can be affected by sound variations, which is critical in areas such as language acquisition, speech pathology, and literacy development.

The other options revolve around different aspects of language: vocabulary pertains to the lexicon, grammatical rules relate to the structure and form of sentences (morphology), and syntax deals with how words combine to form phrases and sentences. While all these elements are integral to a language, they do not fall under the scope of phonology, which is exclusively concerned with the sound systems.