Phonological contrast refers to which of the following?

• A. Location changes the meaning (Summer and Dry)
• B. Movement epenthesis
• C. Hold reduction
• D. Weak-hand deletion

Answer: (A)

Phonological contrast is about which features of a sign can change its meaning. The key idea is that certain Articulatory parameters, like where the sign is produced, can be distinctive enough to create a different word.

Choosing location as the distinguishing factor demonstrates this clearly: if you produce the sign in a different place on the body while keeping other aspects constant, you end up with a different sign with a different meaning. That shows location is a contrastive parameter in sign language.

The other options describe articulation adjustments or reductions that affect how a sign is produced, not whether two signs have different meanings. They’re about how signs can be articulated or streamlined, rather than about lexical contrasts.