What is the difference between a phoneme and a morpheme?

The distinction between a phoneme and a morpheme is foundational in understanding language structure. A phoneme represents the smallest unit of sound in speech. For example, in the word "cat," the phonemes are /k/, /æ/, and /t/. These sounds combine to form a recognizable word.

On the other hand, a morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. It can be a single word like "book" or a part of a word that adds to its meaning, such as the prefix "un-" in "unhappy," where "un-" modifies the meaning of the word to indicate negation.

Thus, knowing that a phoneme focuses on sound and a morpheme focuses on meaning helps clarify their roles in language development and literacy. This understanding is essential for educators when teaching reading and language arts.