Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds, such as their frequency, amplitude, and duration. Phoneticians use a variety of instruments to measure these properties, such as spectrometers and oscilloscopes.
Phonology, on the other hand, is the study of the way speech sounds are organized in a language. Phonologists study things like the distribution of sounds in a language, the way sounds change when they are combined with other sounds, and the way sounds are used to convey meaning.
The scope of phonetics is limited to the physical properties of speech sounds, while the scope of phonology is much broader and encompasses the way sounds are used in language.
Some of the specific topics studied in phonetics and phonology include:
- Articulatory phonetics: the study of how the vocal organs produce speech sounds
- Acoustic phonetics: the study of the physical properties of speech sounds
- Auditory phonetics: the study of how the human ear perceives speech sounds
- Phonological analysis: the study of the way speech sounds are organized in a language
- Phonological theory: the study of the general principles that govern phonological systems
Phonetics and phonology are both essential for understanding how human languages work. Phonetics provides the foundation for understanding the physical properties of speech sounds, while phonology provides the framework for understanding how sounds are used to convey meaning.