Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics and phonology are the two core subfields of linguistics concerned with the study of speech sounds in human language. Phonetics is the scientific study of the physical aspects of sounds, including their production by the vocal organs (articulatory phonetics), their physical properties as sound waves (acoustic phonetics), and their perception by the listener (auditory phonetics). Phonology, on the other hand, studies the abstract, systematic organization of sounds within a specific language, analyzing how sounds are patterned and used to distinguish meaning, including the identification of phonemes, syllable structure, stress, and intonation. Together, these disciplines provide a complete picture of how humans produce, perceive, and mentally organize the sounds of language.

1. Introduction to Speech Sounds
   1. Defining Phonetics and Phonology
      1. Phonetics as Physical Study of Speech
         1. Scope and Methods
         2. Empirical Approach
      2. Phonology as Cognitive Study of Sound Systems
         1. Abstract Sound Patterns
         2. Mental Representation
      3. Relationship Between Fields
         1. Complementary Perspectives
         2. Interface Issues
   2. The International Phonetic Alphabet
      1. History and Development
      2. Design Principles
         1. One Symbol Per Sound
         2. Universal Application
      3. Chart Organization
         1. Consonant Chart Structure
         2. Vowel Chart Layout
         3. Diacritic System
      4. Transcription Types
         1. Phonetic Transcription
         2. Phonemic Transcription
         3. Narrow vs Broad Transcription