Phonetics and Phonology: The Sounds of Language

The branch of linguistics which studies the production and reception of sounds by humans is termed as phonetics. According to the method of research the discipline is further classified into articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics and auditory phonetics. The consonants are divided into labial, dorsal, pharyngeal and laryngeal consonants depending upon their place of articulation. Phonology is a sub-discipline of linguistics which studies the systematic organization of sounds in various languages and dialects. The basic unit of a phonological study is phoneme. Some of the key areas of focus in phonology are syllable structure, feature geometry and intonation. This book attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of phonetics and phonology and how such concepts have practical applications. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the varied branches that fall under this category. This book is meant for students who are looking for an elaborate reference text on phonetics and phonology.