Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies the sounds of human speech, including their production, properties, and perception. It focuses on the physical characteristics of speech sounds, such as the movements of the vocal organs and the acoustic properties of sound waves. Phonetics also examines how speech sounds are categorized and organized in different languages, as well as how they are used to convey meaning and communicate information. This research area plays a crucial role in understanding the basic elements of language and the mechanisms behind human speech production and perception.