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Difference between Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics and phonology are two important intra-disciplinary branches of linguistics. Though
closely interlinked and serving the same purpose, i.e. dedicated to the study of human speech
sounds and sound structures, phonetics and phonology differ from each other to an extent
that each has been given a separate disciplinary status.

Some of the most prominent differences between phonetics and phonology can be elaborated
as follows:

 Descriptive vs. Theoretical: Phonetics is a subfield of descriptive linguistics while

phonology is an area of theoretical linguistics.
 Major Field vs. Sub-discipline: Linguists often consider phonology a major field of
linguistics. While, on the other hand, phonetics is regarded as a subfield placed under
phonology as shown in the diagram below:
 Phonological Analysis vs. Further Studies: Phonetics is the basis for phonological
analysis. On the other hand, phonology is the basis for further work in morphology,
syntax, discourse, and orthography design.
 General Speech Sounds vs. Particular Sound Pattern Analysis: Phonetics (the
study of the physical aspects of sound) analyzes the production of all human speech
sounds, regardless of any language it is dealing with. While, phonology analyses the
sound patterns of a particular language by determining which phonetic sounds are
significant, and explaining how these sounds are interpreted by the native speaker.
 Concrete vs. Abstract: Phonetics discusses the physical characteristics of speech
sounds or signs, especially, their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory
perception and neurophysiological status. Phonology is primarily concerned with the
abstract, grammatical characterization of systems of sounds or signs.
 Audible Sounds vs. Their Meanings: Phonetics is strictly about audible sounds
and the things that happen in our mouth, throat, nasal and sinus cavities, and the lungs to
make these sounds. It has nothing to do with meaning. It is only description. Phonology,
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on the other hand, is both physical as well as meaningful. It explores the differences
between the sounds in a language that change the meaning of an utterance.
 Limited vs. Wide Scope: Phonetics only asks, “Does this sound go here or not?”
Phonology asks, “Does the meaning change if this sound is put here instead of that one?”
 Form vs. Function: Phonetics is concerned with the form, i.e. the physical
properties of sounds. Phonology, on the other hand, is concerned with the function, i.e.
the differences and similarities of sounds.
 Parole vs. Langue: The linguistic term ‘parole’ is the concern of phoneticians while
‘langue’ is studied by phonologists.
 Universal vs. Language Specific: Phonetics deals with the universal phenomenon
of human speech sounds. Phonology, on the other hand, is language specific.
 Phone vs. Phoneme: In phonetics, the smallest structural unit is a phone. In
phonology, on the other hand, the minimal meaningful unit is called a phoneme.
 Phone vs. Allophone: Every language consists of speech sounds called phones.
Phonetics is concerned with phones in general. Phonology, on the other hand, describes
phones as allophones of phonemes.
 Phonetic vs. Phonemic Transcription: Phonetics deals with the phonetic
transcription of speech sounds. Phonology, on the other hand, deals with the phonemic
transcription of speech sounds.
 Square Brackets vs. Slanted Brackets: In phonetic transcription, square brackets
are used to enclose transcribed symbols. In phonemic transcription, on the other hand,
slashes are used for the same purpose.
 Speech Act vs. Language System: Phonetics is concerned with the speech act.
Phonology, on the other hand, is concerned with the language system.
 Continuous vs. Discrete Entity: Phonetics is the domain of the continuous, while
phonology is the domain of discrete entity.
 Gradient vs. Categorical: Phonetics is gradient while phonology is categorical.
 Phonetics in Phonology vs. Phonology in Phonetics: During their interaction,
when phonetics affects phonology, the phonetics effects and constraints are reflected in
the phonology. This is referred to as naturalness. On the other hand, when phonology
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affects phonetics, it results in the mapping between the units of phonology and their
physical realization.
 Individuality vs. Interrelationship of Sounds: Phonetic transcription depends
simply on the pronunciation of each individual sound regardless of its function in the
sound system of the given language, whereas phonemic transcription depends upon the
interrelationship of sounds in each particular language.
 Identification vs. Interpretation of Sounds: Phonetics studies ‘which sounds are
present in a language’. Phonology, on the other hand, studies how these sounds combine
and how they change in combination, as well as which sounds can contrast to produce
differences in meaning.
 Phonetic vs. Phonemic Features: Phonetic features whose presence or absence can
alter meaning are called phonemic features. On the other hand, adding or subtracting a
phonemic feature normally results in a change of meaning as well as in a change in
pronunciation.
 Predictability vs. Unpredictability of Features: The occurrence of certain phonetic
features is entirely predictable in phonetic environment, called redundant phonetic
features, as is the case in English with voicing or sonorants, nasality of vowels, or length
in vowels. On the other hand, the presence of a phonemic feature is not predictable
according to phonetic context.
 Phonetic Symbols vs. Phonemic Symbols: The symbols of phonetic alphabet are
universal. On the other hand, phonemic symbols are a type of phonetic shorthand with
specific value for a particular sound in a language.
 Marking vs. Ignoring Phonetic Detail: Phonetic transcription, enclosed in square
brackets, attempts to express as much phonetic detail as possible, redundant or otherwise;
phonemic transcription does not mark redundant features, but rather is intended to
represent only those phonetic details of a given language that are distinctive.
 “One for One” vs. “One for Several”: In phonetics, a phonetic symbol stands for
one and the same sound regardless of language, but a phonemic symbol often stands for
any one of the several actual sounds.
 Examples: Let us take an example of the word “bed”. Phonetics is concerned with
its physical production, acoustic properties, and its physiological status. On the other
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hand, phonologists take the word “bed” differently. They say the word “bet” is very
similar to the word “bed” in terms of the physical manifestation of sounds. The only
difference is that at the end of “bet,” the vocal chords stop vibrating so that sound is a
result only of the placement of the tongue behind the teeth and the flow of air. However,
the meanings of the two words are not related in the least. What a vast difference a
muscle makes! This is the biggest distinction between phonetics and phonology, although
phonologists analyze a lot more than just the obvious differences.