What are the two main components of a phoneme?

The correct understanding of a phoneme encompasses its role as the smallest unit of sound in a language that can differentiate meaning. A phoneme itself does not convey meaning directly, but rather contributes to the formation of words that have meaning. Thus, the concept of "sound" is intrinsic to a phoneme, as it defines its auditory characteristics, while "meaning influence" recognizes that changes in the phonemes can alter the meanings of words within a given language context.

The relationship between sound and meaning is foundational in phonetics and linguistics; when phonemes are manipulated, they can produce entirely different words or alter meanings, illustrating their critical function in language. This distinction is especially important in fields such as phonology and phonetics, as it delineates how phonemes operate within the structure of language.

In this case, while the other options provided might reflect aspects that relate to phonemes or sounds in general, they do not encapsulate the essence of what a phoneme is. The emphasis on both tangible sound aspects and their implications on meaning is what makes this choice accurate and relevant to the study of phonology.