pho·nol·o·gy 
(fə-nŏlə-jē, fō-)
(fə-nŏlə-jē, fō-)n. pl. pho·nol·o·gies
1. The study of speech sounds in language or a language with reference to their distribution and patterning and to tacit rules governing pronunciation.
2. The sound system of a language: the phonology of English.
pho·no·logic (fō′nə-lŏjĭk), pho′no·logi·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
pho′no·logi·cal·ly adv.
pho·nolo·gist n.