Which aspect of linguistics is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds?

Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that deals specifically with the physical properties of speech sounds. It involves the study of how sounds are produced (articulatory phonetics), how they are transmitted (acoustic phonetics), and how they are perceived (auditory phonetics). This discipline focuses on the actual sounds, their qualities, and the mechanisms involved in their production, such as the movements of the articulators (tongue, lips, etc.) and the properties of sound waves.

While phonology also relates to speech sounds, it focuses more on how sounds function and are organized in particular languages rather than their physical characteristics. The distinction lies in phonetics being concerned with the raw, measurable aspects of sound, while phonology looks at the abstract rules and systems governing sound patterns in language. Likewise, while articulatory and acoustic are related areas within phonetics, they are not as encompassing as phonetics itself, which includes both along with auditory considerations. Thus, phonetics is the comprehensive field that encompasses all aspects of how speech sounds are physically produced and understood.