Do phonemes = sounds? ("Richard H." )

Subject: Do phonemes = sounds?
From:    "Richard H."  <auditory(at)AUGMENTICS.COM>
Date:    Mon, 6 Jun 2005 20:20:26 +0100

Hi,

I keep seeing phonemes being referred to as if they are real sounds.

However I recollect seeing a discussion in a book which identified phonemes as being abstract definitions/notations and NOT
representations of actual sounds.

So what's "the truth" here? Can computers create and/or recognise phomemes .. or is the notation too abstract?

regards,

Richard