Final answer:
Phonology is the study of the systematic identification and description of distinctive speech sounds in a language. It involves analyzing how sounds are structured and governed by rules within a language, and this knowledge is crucial for understanding dialects, speech communities, and the influences on language development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The systematic identification and description of distinctive speech sounds in a language is called phonology. Phonology is a branch of linguistics that studies how sounds are organized and used in natural languages. The patterns of sounds in a language are not arbitrary but are instead governed by a set of phonological rules which determine how these sounds are combined and pronounced. These rules encompass aspects such as the intonation patterns, the rhythm, and how certain sounds can change depending on the context (allophonic variations). For example, dialects are an important area of study within phonology. A dialect refers to a variety of a language that is specific to a particular region or social group, and includes distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. This is evident in the way that people in the Philadelphia metropolitan area might pronounce the word "water" as "woohder" and use "yooz" as the second-person plural. Over time, differences in dialect can become so pronounced that they lead to the development of a new language. Understanding the phonology of a language helps in identifying linguistic structures and accents, such as the various American English dialects. It is integral to studying the language in use within speech communities and understanding how external influences, such as environment or altitude, may shape the way a language sounds. Phonology thus plays a crucial role in language acquisition, socialization, and revitalization.