What is phonology primarily concerned with?

Phonology focuses on the sound system of a language, examining how sounds function and are organized in that language. It encompasses the rules governing the patterns of sounds, syllable structures, and phonemes, as well as how they interact with each other. Phonologists study aspects such as intonation, stress patterns, and the way sounds change in different contexts. The study of phonology is essential for understanding pronunciation, accents, and the ways in which language can convey meaning through sound.

While the other options relate to various aspects of linguistics, they do not pertain specifically to the sound system. Rules of word order relate to syntax, which concerns the structure of sentences. Linguistic meaning deals with semantics, the study of meaning in language. Word formation pertains to morphology, focusing on how words are constructed from smaller units. Thus, the unique focus on sounds and their patterns in phonology makes it distinct from other areas of linguistic study.