Concept:Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that scientifically studies speech sounds, including their physical production, transmission, and perception.
Explanation:Phonetics focuses on how sounds are made by the human vocal apparatus.
It does not deal with reading or writing systems, which are separate skills.
Pronunciation is a practical application, but phonetics is the underlying science of all speech sounds.
Hence, among the given options, “Sounds” accurately defines the subject matter of phonetics.
Answer:Option A: Sounds