Which term refers to prosodic properties that form part of the makeup of sounds regardless of place or manner of articulation?

• A. Phonemes
• B. Suprasegmentals
• C. Morphemes
• D. Allomorphs

Answer: (B)

Prosodic features that extend over sequences of sounds are called suprasegmentals. They include intonation, stress, rhythm, and length, which organize speech across multiple sounds rather than changing the identity of individual phonemes. These properties operate independently of where or how a sound is produced in the mouth, shaping meaning and emphasis rather than the articulation itself. For example, the rising intonation at the end of a question shows tone and intent without altering any specific sound.

Phonemes are the smallest units that can distinguish meaning, morphemes are units of meaning, and allomorphs are variant forms of a morpheme. None of these focus on the overarching prosodic layer that applies across speech, which is why suprasegmentals is the best fit.