Fonètic

Fonètic is the Catalan term used to refer to the field of phonetics, the scientific study of the sounds of human speech. It encompasses how speech sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived, and it is distinct from phonology, which analyzes the abstract sound systems and patterns of languages. Phonetics focuses on the concrete properties of sounds, including their physical articulation, acoustic signals, and perceptual impression.

The field is commonly divided into three branches. Articulatory phonetics examines how speech sounds are formed by the vocal apparatus, including the tongue, lips, and vocal cords. Acoustic phonetics analyzes the physical properties of sound waves, such as frequency, amplitude, and formants, typically using spectrograms and other instrumental measurements. Auditory phonetics studies how listeners perceive speech, including auditory processing and perceptual categorization.

Methods and tools used in fonètic include phonetic transcription with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), acoustic analysis through spectrograms, palatography and palatometry to map contact in the oral cavity, and modern imaging and measurement techniques such as ultrasound, MRI, and electromagnetic articulography. Data collection is often complemented by perceptual experiments and statistical analysis.

Applications of fonètic span education, technology, and forensics. In language teaching, it informs pronunciation instruction. In technology, it underpins speech synthesis and automatic speech recognition. In clinical settings, it supports diagnosis and treatment of speech disorders, and in forensics, it assists in the analysis of spoken evidence. The field has historical roots in the work of early phoneticians and the development of the International Phonetic Alphabet.