Segmental phonology
Segmental phonology is a branch of phonology that deals with the study of individual speech sounds or segments, which are the discrete units that make up spoken language. In contrast to suprasegmental features, which involve aspects such as intonation, stress, and rhythm that extend across multiple segments, segmental phonology focuses on the properties and variations of individual sounds.
Segmental phonology includes the analysis of consonants and vowels, their articulatory properties (how they are physically produced), acoustic properties (how they sound), and how they function within the structure of a language. This field is concerned with understanding the distinct sound units in a language and the rules governing their combinations and variations.
In summary, segmental phonology is the study of individual speech sounds and their patterns in language. It forms an essential component of linguistic analysis and contributes to our understanding of the structure and organization of phonological systems in different languages.
Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle (1968) "The Sound Pattern of English"
John Clark, Colin Yallop, and Janet Fletcher (2012)"Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology"
Peter Ladefoged and Keith Johnson (2010) "A Course in Phonetics" Peter Ladefoged and Keith Johnson (2010)