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1. Phonetics as a science

Phonetics is an independent branch of linguistics like lexicology, grammar and stylistics. It is the science of speech sounds as elements of language. It studies not only separate sounds, but their functions as well.

Phonetics has branches of its own. The most important of them are special phonetics and general phonetics. Special phonetics studies the sounds of one language at a particular period of time — synchronically (descriptive phonetics) or diachronically (historical phonetics). General phonetics studies the sound system of several languages. It is part of general linguistics.

Phonetics is connected with linguistic and non-linguistic sciences: acoustics, physiology, psychology, logic, etc. Phonetics formulates the rules of pronunciation for separate sounds and sound combinations.