The theory of Phonetics

The theory of phonetics

Phonetics is the study of how speech sounds are made, transmited and received, i.e. phonetics is the study of all possible speech sounds. The human vocal apparatus can produce a wide range of sounds: but only a small number of them are used in a language to construct all of its words and utterances.

Phonology is the study of those segmental (speech sound types) and prosodic (intonation) features which have a differential value in the language. It studies the way in which speakers systematically use a selection of units-phonemes or intonates, in order to express meaning. It investigates the phonetic phenomena from the point of view of their use.

Phonetics has several definitions in modern times but it is impossible to give the definition of phonetics in a single sentence. First of all, phonetics is not a seperate independent science: it is a branch of linguistics like the other branches such as lexicology and grammar. These three linguistic sciences study language from three different viewpoints. Lexicology deals with the vocabulary of a language, with the origin and development of words, with word meaning and word building. Grammar defines the rules governing the modifications of words and the combination of words into sentences. Phonetics deals with the phonetic system of a language. The phonetic system of English includes the following 4 components: the system of speech sounds, the accentual structure, the syllabic structure of words and intonation. These four components constitute what is called the pronounciation of English. Phonetics has several branches. The branch of phonetics which deals with classification of speech sounds as well as their articulation(production), is called Articulary phonetics.