Phonetics (pronounced /fəˈnɛtɪks/, from the
Greek: phōnē, 'sound, voice') is a
branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech,
or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign.
It is concerned with the physical properties of
speech sounds or signs (phones): their physiological production, acoustic
properties, auditory perception, and neurophysiological status. Phonology, on
the other hand, is concerned with the abstract, grammatical characterization of
systems of sounds or signs.
The field of phonetics is a multilayered
subject of linguistics that focuses on speech. In the case of oral languages
there are three basic areas of study:
- · Articulatory phonetics: the study of the production of speech sounds by the articulatory and vocal tract by the speaker.
- · Acoustic phonetics: the study of the physical transmission of speech sounds from the speaker to the listener.
- · Auditory phonetics: the study of the reception and perception of speech sounds by the listener.
These areas are inter-connected through the
common mechanism of sound, such as wavelength (pitch), amplitude, and
harmonics.
Phonetics as a research discipline has three
main branches:
- · Articulatory phonetics is concerned with the articulation of speech: The position, shape, and movement of articulators or speech organs, such as the lips, tongue, and vocal folds.
- · Acoustic phonetics is concerned with acoustics of speech: The spectro-temporal properties of the sound waves produced by speech, such as their frequency, amplitude, and harmonic structure.
- · Auditory phonetics is concerned with speech perception: the perception, categorization, and recognition of speech sounds and the role of the auditory system and the brain in the same.
FOR NOW WE WILL BE WORKING ONLY OVER THE VOWEL SOUNDS.
