What is the primary goal of applied phonetics?

The primary goal of applied phonetics is to focus on practical applications of the study of sounds in human speech, particularly in the context of communication disorders and speech-language pathology. Transcribing speech sounds is a key element of this goal because it allows practitioners to document and analyze how individuals produce speech. This transcription can help diagnose speech difficulties, design therapeutic interventions, and document progress over time.

While understanding speech production, studying sound wave properties, and analyzing listener responses are all important aspects of the broader field of phonetics and can inform applied phonetics, the act of transcription is crucial for directly linking theoretical knowledge to real-world applications, making it the primary focus in applied phonetics contexts.