What does phonetics study?

Phonetics focuses specifically on the study of sounds made during human speech, which encompasses the physical properties of these sounds, how they are produced by the vocal apparatus, and how they are perceived by the ear. This field encompasses the classification and description of the various sounds (phonemes) in human languages and how these sounds function in communication.

Understanding phonetics is essential for multiple applications, such as teaching pronunciation in language learning, conducting linguistic research, and developing speech recognition technology. While the other answer choices address different aspects of language, like semantics and syntax, they do not capture the sound-specific focus that defines phonetics. By studying phonetics, one gains insights into the fundamental building blocks of spoken language.