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Autosegmental phonology is a framework used in linguistics to describe the phonological structure of languages. It was developed by Joan Bybee and William M. Saltzman in the 1970s as an alternative to the traditional linear phonological model. In autosegmental phonology, certain phonological features, such as tone and stress, are represented as separate tiers or levels of representation, independent of the segmental tier that represents consonants and vowels.

The autosegmental model allows for a more nuanced representation of phonological phenomena, particularly those that involve non-linear relationships between segments. For example, in tonal languages, the pitch of a syllable can be represented as an autosegment that is associated with a particular vowel or consonant. This allows for a more accurate description of tone sandhi, where the pitch of one tone can influence the pitch of another.

Autosegmental phonology has been influential in the development of other phonological theories, such as Optimality Theory and the theory of prosodic morphology. It has also been applied to a wide range of languages, from tonal languages like Mandarin Chinese to stress-accent languages like English. Despite its success, the autosegmental model has been criticized for its complexity and the difficulty of learning and applying it. However, it remains an important tool for linguists studying the phonological structure of languages.