Which type of phonetics focuses on the physical properties of sounds?

Acoustic phonetics is the branch of phonetics that examines the physical properties of speech sounds as they travel through the air. It focuses on the analysis of sound waves, including their frequency, amplitude, and duration. This field utilizes sophisticated tools and techniques, such as spectrograms, to visualize and measure the characteristics of sounds. By studying these physical properties, researchers can understand how different sounds are produced and perceived.

In contrast, articulatory phonetics concentrates on how speech sounds are produced by the movement of the articulators within the vocal tract, such as the tongue, lips, and vocal cords. Auditory phonetics deals with how sounds are received and processed by the ear and brain, focusing on the perception of sound. Phonological phonetics deals with the abstract, cognitive aspects of sounds and their organization within languages, rather than their physical properties. Each of these branches contributes to a comprehensive understanding of phonetics, but acoustic phonetics specifically addresses the physical characteristics of sounds.