pho·nol·o·gy 
(f
ə-n
ŏl
ə-j
ē, f
ō-)
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.