Understanding the Sounds of Language: Phonetics vs. Phonology

 

Understanding how we produce and organize sounds is essential in the study of language. Two key areas in this field are phonetics and phonology.

Phonetics

Phonetics is the study of the physical aspects of speech sounds. It focuses on how sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived, regardless of language. This includes movements of the tongue, airflow, and vibration of the vocal cords.

Phonology

Phonology deals with how sounds function and behave within a particular language. It studies patterns, rules, and how sounds interact with one another in different contexts.

The Key Difference

While phonetics is about the production and nature of sounds, phonology is about their organization and role in a language. Phonetics gives us the tools to describe sounds; phonology tells us how those sounds work in real speech.