What is a phoneme?

A phoneme is defined as the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning between words. This concept is crucial in the study of linguistics and language development, as phonemes are the building blocks of spoken language. For example, the difference in sound between the words "bat" and "pat" is due to the initial phonemes /b/ and /p/. Each phoneme can alter the meaning of a word, which is why they are so important in communication and language acquisition. Recognizing and producing phonemes is a foundational skill in literacy and language learning, allowing individuals to decode and encode words effectively. Understanding phonemes aids in grasping how sounds operate within any given language, making option A the most accurate choice regarding the definition of a phoneme.