Assimilation (linguistics)
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Assimilation is a regular and frequent sound change process by which a phoneme changes to match an adjacent phoneme in a word. If the phoneme changes to match the preceding phoneme, it is progressive assimilation. If the phoneme changes to match the following phoneme, it is regressive assimilation. If there is a mutual influence between the two phonemes, it is reciprocal assimilation. In the latter case the two phonemes can fuse completely and give a birth to a different one. This is called a coalescence.
Assimilation may result in the neighbouring segments becoming identical, yielding a geminate consonant; this is complete assimilation. In other cases, only some features of phonemes assimilate, e.g. voicedness or place of articulation; this is partial assimilation.
Examples
Complete assimilation:
- The word assimilation itself (from Latin ad + simile)
- illegible (in + legible)
- suppose (sub + pose)
- in Italian: Egitto (tt < pt), dottore (tt < kt), and many more
Partial assimilation:
- voicing: the pronunciation of absurd as apsurd
- voicing: bats (bat + the plural morpheme s, which is underlyingly /z/)
- place of articulation: impossible (in + possible), incomplete (in which n represents the velar nasal)
Numerous examples can be found at List of Latin words with English derivatives.
See also
Template:Ling-stubeo:Asimiliĝo ko:음운 동화 nl:Assimilatie (taalkunde)