phonetics

[ fuh-net-iks, foh- ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the science or study of speech sounds and their production, transmission, and reception, and their analysis, classification, and transcription. Compare acoustic phonetics, articulatory phonetics, auditory phonetics, physiological phonetics.
2. the phonetic system or the body of phonetic facts of a particular language.
3. the symbols used to represent the speech sounds of a language.

phonetics

/ fəˈnɛtɪks /

noun

1. functioning as singular the science concerned with the study of speech processes, including the production, perception, and analysis of speech sounds from both an acoustic and a physiological point of view. This science, though capable of being applied to language studies, technically excludes linguistic considerations Compare phonology

Word History and Origins

Origin of phonetics¹

First recorded in 1835–45; phonetic, -ics

Example Sentences

It is the long school vacation in Nigeria and Elizabeth Stephens' regular students - the children of Abuja's rich and famous, who she teaches diction and phonetics at expensive private schools - are on holiday.

From BBC

He said writing a song was second nature, and he “used his own version of phonetics” to quickly create songs.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he used his own version of phonetics to create songs so quickly that he could write up to nine in a day.

From Seattle Times

The work can start with spelling out the phonetics or giving recordings to help an actor practice.

From Los Angeles Times

He knows how to style the notes, play with their phonetics and shape their edges.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• accent
• diction
• utterance