Final answer:
The study in question is part of the discipline of linguistics, particularly the subfields of phonology and morphology, which involve the analysis of phonemes and morphemes in language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of patterns and rules of how sounds combine to make morphemes is a fundamental aspect of linguistics, particularly in the subfields of phonology and morphology. Phonology deals with the phonemes of a language, which are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish meaning. For instance, the difference between the /p/ sound in 'pat' and the /b/ sound in 'bat' can alter the meaning of these words. Morphemes, on the other hand, are the smallest grammatical units in a language. A single morpheme may be a word, like 'I', or a word element, like the 's' that makes nouns plural.
Semantics and syntax are additional linguistic elements that relate to grammar. Semantics is concerned with meaning derived from words and morphemes, while syntax is about the arrangement of words to create coherent sentences. The intricate interplay between these elements is crucial to the structure and function of language.
One must also consider how children acquire the ability to differentiate and produce the sounds necessary for their language. Studies have shown that, while very young infants can distinguish between nearly all phonetic contrasts used in human languages, they gradually lose this ability and refine it to only discriminate the sounds relevant to the languages they are exposed to.
Furthermore, linguistics encompasses various other subfields such as sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, which analyze language use within social and cultural contexts. These disciplines offer insight into how language varies and evolves within different communities and settings.