Concepts of Phonetics and Phonology

Definition of Phonetics:

Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies the physical sounds of human speech. It focuses on how speech sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived. According to Ladefoged (2005), phonetics analyzes "the physical properties of speech sounds, including their articulation and acoustic features."

Articulatory Features:

• Place of articulation (where the sound is produced in the vocal tract)
• Manner of articulation (how the airflow is modified)
• Voicing (whether the vocal cords vibrate)

Examples:

• /p/ (voiceless bilabial plosive)
• /d/ (voiced alveolar plosive)
• /s/ (voiceless alveolar fricative)

Definition of Phonology:

Phonology is the study of how speech sounds function within a particular language or languages. It focuses on the abstract, cognitive aspects of sounds and their patterns. Roach (2009) states that phonology "concerns itself with the organization of sounds in particular languages, distinguishing phonemes and their functions."

Suprasegmental Features:

• Stress (emphasis on certain syllables in words)
• Intonation (the rise and fall of pitch in speech)
• Rhythm (patterns of strong and weak syllables)

Examples:

• Stress: ‘record (noun) vs. re‘cord (verb)
• Intonation: Rising intonation in questions vs. falling intonation in statements