Describe sound as longitudinal and not transverse wave in phonetics and phonology ?

In phonetics and phonology, sound is typically described as a longitudinal wave rather than a transverse wave. This is because sound waves travel through a medium by compressing and rarefying the particles in the medium in the direction of the wave's propagation. This compression and rarefaction of particles creates areas of high and low pressure, which are perceived as sound by the human ear.

In contrast, transverse waves involve the displacement of particles perpendicular to the direction of the wave's propagation. While transverse waves can occur in some physical phenomena, such as light waves, sound waves are primarily longitudinal in nature.

Therefore, in the study of phonetics and phonology, sound is typically understood and analyzed as a longitudinal wave that travels through a medium by compressing and rarefying particles in the direction of the wave's propagation.