What best describes the relationship between a phoneme and a morpheme?

The relationship between a phoneme and a morpheme is best captured by the understanding that both are fundamental units in the study of language. A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound that can differentiate meaning in a spoken language, while a morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit of language, which can be a word or part of a word (like prefixes or suffixes).

Identifying both phonemes and morphemes as units of speech highlights their distinct roles in language. Phonemes contribute to the sound structure of a language, while morphemes serve to convey meaning. Recognizing this duality is essential for understanding how languages are constructed and interpreted.

While phonemes and morphemes are both vital in the study of linguistics, they operate at different levels—phonemes at the level of sound, and morphemes at the level of meaning. This distinction emphasizes the different yet complementary roles that each unit plays in language.