4. The interconnection between phonetics and phonology

The sound matter of the language can be analyzed either from the physical and physiological point of view or from the functional one, which largely determines the distinction between Phonetics and Phonology, though the latter can be also defined and realized as Functional Phonetics. So phonetics studies sounds as articulatory and acoustic units, while phonology investigates sounds as units, which serve communicative purposes – that is those sounds which can fulfill the distinctive function.

Also the distinction between phonetics and phonology raises from the recognition of the fact that some sounds are structurally relevant whereas others are not. It means that some particular sounds in speech which phonetics traditionally represents (for instance non-aspirated p in Spain are not structurally important, because in this case the variants can not filfull the distinctive function – the subdivision of the non-aspirated p by aspirated p can not affect the meaning. In other words only functionally relevant sounds can become the object of investigation in phonology.

Фонология была основана как попытка противостоять излишествам фонетики. Фонетика изучает звуки, как явление.

Фонетика pain - Spain

Фонология pain – main

Phonetics and phonology may be interpreted as two different levels of abstraction at which linguistic analysis of the sound system is carried out. Phoneticians are mainly interested in the analysis of the physical implementation of sound units, whereas phonologists are mainly involved in the study of structurally and functionally relevant phenomena.

The distinction between phonetics and phonology may be also defined in terms of the dichotomies between language and speech. Phonology lies in the domain of language, but not speech; phonetics, on the other hand, lies both in the domain of speech and language. So it is essential to distinguish between speech sounds, language sounds and phonemes as units of phonetics and phonology.

Thus we can conclude that the basic principles of phonological analysis are equivalent to the distinctions between:

1. paradigmatics (may be defined as L structure based on associative relationship) and syntagmatics (as well as L structure based on linear relationship)

2. Syntagmatics deals with paradigmatics and syntagmatics of phonemes which otherwise may be called segmental units; and supersegmantics deals with paradigmatics and syntegmatics of supersegmental units such as stress, accent and intonation which manifest themselves within syllables, words, word-groups and sentences. As for L is to be understood as the structure of a given L, whereas the most reasonable conception of speech is that of a text, spoken or written.

The interconnection between phonetics and phonology is simple and transparent, on the one hand, and complex and manifold, on the other. The topic is highly controversial and is based on stereotypes and prejudices, which are hard to overcome:

1 phonology is a part of phonetics, not vice versa

2 phonology is no less concrete than phonetics, no matter how for the analyzed segment or sound sequence is from the actual phonetic presentation.

3 natural phonological process cannot be explained exclusively through phonetic analysis, with reference to phonetic phenomena, or characteristics.

4 the role of anthrophoneticsn (in terms of articulatory and auditory) should not be overestimated

5 phonetics must be viewed upon as a material basis for the phonological upper –storey or super structure, which represents phonetic phenomena as a higher degree of abstraction. The connection between the basis and the superstructure is rather reciprocal. Being a derivative of phonetics, phonology can hardly be regarded as a mere reflection of it.

So, we can make conclude be saying that phonetics is an explanatory science not due to its own possibilities only, but due to specific paradigmatic and syntagmatic system in the L system the knowledge of which only phonology can supply.

Consequently, neither phonology fully deserves the little of being abstract phonetics nor phonetics can be truly called concrete phonology, that it is wise to say that it is on the border between phonetics and phonology that sound patterns are found.