What is the study of sounds of speech known as?

Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that focuses specifically on the study of the sounds of speech. This field examines how sounds are produced (articulatory phonetics), how they are transmitted (acoustic phonetics), and how they are perceived (auditory phonetics). By understanding phonetics, one gains insight into the physical properties of speech sounds, including their articulation in the vocal tract, their acoustic characteristics such as frequency and amplitude, and how listeners decode these sounds.

In contrast, phonology deals with the abstract aspects of sounds and their organization within particular languages, such as how sounds function as part of a system of communication. Syntax pertains to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences, while semantics involves the meaning of words and sentences. Thus, phonetics uniquely encompasses the physical and perceptual elements of speech sounds, making it the appropriate choice for the study in question.