Assimilation – the process by which a sound is altered through the influence of a neighbouring sound.
Modifications of phonemes in speech
Assimilation may influence:
the work of the vocal cords (voice assimilation);
the active organ of speech;
the manner of noise production (loss of plosion or incomplete plosion);
the place of articulation (in trip alveolar /t/ becomes post-alveolar).
Modifications of phonemes in speech
Voice assimilation is observed when one of the two adjacent [ə̍ʤeɪs(ə)nt] (смежный, соседний) consonants becomes voiced under the influence of the neighbouring voiced consonant, or voiceless - under the influence of the voiced consonant. E.g.:
translate [trənz ˈleɪt], I shoud pay [aɪ ʃt ˎpeɪ].
Modifications of phonemes in speech
The active organ of speech may be affected in a careless rapid speech, e.g.:
Give me /ˎgɪm mɪ/;
bad pain /̍bæb ˎpeɪn/;
queen mother /̍kwi:m ˎmʌðə/.
Modifications of phonemes in speech
Assimilation
(according to direction)
progressive regressive double
(bidirectional)
desks /desks at the desk /ət ðə/ twice /twais/
bags /bægz/ ( /t/-dental ) /dj/ > /dʒ/ education
happen /hæpm/ good bye /gub bai/ /tj/ > /t∫/ situation
give me /gim mi/ /sj/ > /∫/ issue
Modifications of phonemes in speech
Accommodation (adaptation) – the process of adapting the articulation of a vowel to a consonant, or a consonant to a vowel.
Vowels:
nasalization: [tẽn]
shortening: cease [si·s]
Consonants:
palatalization: / ∫, ʒ, t∫ ∫, dʒ/ shirt, cheese, June
