acoustic phonetics

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noun

the branch of science dealing with the sounds of speech in terms of their frequency, duration, intensity, etc., especially as analyzed by means of instruments like the sound spectrograph and the oscillograph.Compare articulatory phonetics.

a composite branch of physics and linguistics that treats sound proper as it relates to speech.

the branch of phonetics dealing with the transmission of sounds to the ear and the reception of them by the ear prior to neurological processing.

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Compare auditory phonetics.

Origin of acoustic phonetics

First recorded in 1930–35

Words nearby acoustic phonetics

acoustic impedance, acoustic mine, acoustic nerve, acoustic neuroma, acoustic ohm, acoustic phonetics, acoustic reactance, acoustic resistance, acoustics, acoustic shock, acoustic spectrography

How to use acoustic phonetics in a sentence

It was a small step in learning to stick to my guns, but a leap in my comprehension of phonetics.
‘Sesame Street’ Is Middle-Aged and Awesome|Emily Shire|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
George would take out his lyric book and acoustic guitar and play us the song we would be working on that day.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More|Gary Wright|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
George took his acoustic guitar and began showing me the chord changes, which I nervously wrote out on a chord chart.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More|Gary Wright|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Microwave "pain rays" and acoustic crowd dispersal weapons already exist.
Special Ops’ Weapons Wish List|Michael Peck|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Army suggests that laser, microwave or acoustic weapons are the answer.
Special Ops’ Weapons Wish List|Michael Peck|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Harry would then ask himself if it was not the effect of some acoustic illusion, or some strange and fantastic echo.
The Underground City|Jules Verne
My endeavour has been to put things very simply, and to make the beginner in phonetics hear for himself.
The Sounds of Spoken English|Walter Rippmann
Acoustic, a-kowst′ik, adj. pertaining to the sense of hearing or to the theory of sounds: used in hearing, auditory.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
Modern writers in their zeal for phonetics seem to have lost their sense of proportion.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind|Herbert George Wells
They are not responsible for any specific sound or acoustic feature of sounds except, possibly, accent or stress.
Language|Edward Sapir

British Dictionary definitions for acoustic phonetics

acoustic phonetics

noun

(functioning as singular) the branch of phonetics concerned with the acoustic properties of human speechCompare auditory phonetics, articulatory phonetics

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012