ASSIMILATORY PROCESSES
Assimilation is when certain phonemes take on the character of a different phonemes elsewhere in the word. This can be progressive, where a phoneme takes on the environment form a sound before it. On the other hand, it could be regressive, where a phoneme takes on the environment of phoneme that follows it.
Assimilatory processes involve phonetic difficulty due to the phoneme's environment --> or place of articulation and voicing.
It involves Labial, Velar, Alveolar, and Voicing Assimilation.
!!!! Remember: it is not about spelling but instead how it sounds !!!! ( Reading the examples out loud will help you understand)
Labial Assimilation: When a phoneme is produced in the labial place of articulation (lips- make the sound /p/) though it should not be. This happens because there is a labial phoneme within in the same word.
ex: but ---> bup
Velar Assimilation: When a phoneme is produced in the velar place of articulation (back roof of mouth- make the sound/k/) though it should not be. This happens because there is a velar phoneme within the same word.
ex: cup --> kuk
Alveolar Assimilation: When a phoneme is produced in the alveolar place of articulation (ridge behind top teeth- make the sound /t/) though it should not be. This happens because there is a labial phoneme within the same word.
ex: neck --> net
Voicing Assimilation: Firstly, in order to understand voicing assimilation, you need to comprehend what voicing is. Voicing occurs when the vocal folds vibrate in the production of a sound. Place two fingers on your throat right where an atoms apple would be. Make the sound /z/. Did you feel the vocal folds vibrate! /z/ is a voiced phoneme. Now make the sound /s/. There was no vibration so the phoneme /s/ is unvoiced.
There are two types of voicing assimilation: prevocalic voicing and devoicing.
- Prevocalic voicing happens when a child voices a phoneme that is naturally unvoiced.
ex: sun ---> zun
- Devoicing occurs when a normally voiced phoneme at the end of the word becomes unvoiced.
ex: bad --> bat
Click here to see a chart of assimilatory processes and examples!!!