Phonetic Phenomena

Language in everyday use is not conducted in terms of isolated separate units. It is performed in connected sequences of larger units in words, phrases, longer utterances, sentences, texts. There are some differences between the pronunciation of a word in isolation and of the same word in a block of connected speech. These changes are quite regular and predictable. Speech sounds influence each other in the flow of speech as a result of the intercourse between consonants and vowels and within each class. There appear such process as assimilation, linking’ r’, intrusive ‘r’and reduction.

I. Assimilation

When phonemes are joined together within a single word and the junction of words in phrases and sentences, they have a tendency to react one upon the other in such a way, that the articulation of one influences the articulation of the neighboring phoneme, making it similar to itself. This process is called assimilation. In Modern English it is mostly consonant phonemes, which are affected by assimilation. The phenomenon may influence of the place of consonant articulation and the manner of articulation. According to the first principle assimilation may be of four types:

Partial regressive assimilation.

The alveolar variants of the phonemes [t, d, n, l, s, z] are replaced by their subsidiary dental variants, when they are adjacent to dental consonant phonemes [ð, T], e.g.: tenth, in the. - [tenT], [in ðә].

Partially regressive assimilation.

The alveolar phonemes [t], [d] become postalveolar under the influence of the postalveolar [r], e. g.: tree, dream, true, dry.

Complete regressive assimilation.

The alveolar phonemes [s], [z] take the postalveolar variants before [S], e. g.: horse shoe [‘hLSSH], this shop [‘DISSOp].

Incomplete regressive assimilation.

The phonemes [d], [t] followed by [j] are pronounced together as affricates, e. g.: could you [‘kuGH], graduate [‘grxGueIt].

Nasal consonants are not less susceptible to assimilation. The place of articulation of nasal consonants varies according to the consonant that follows.

Examples:

§ in camp [m] remains bilabial before another bilabial, as well as in man before a vowel;

§ in cent [n] is alveolar before another alveolar as in net;

§ in symphony[m] is actually labiodental followed by the labiodental [f];

§ in thank, congress[n] assimilates to the velar consonant becoming [N].

Changing the manner of articulation, assimilation causes such phenomena as lateral plosion, nasal plosion, loss of aspiration and loss of plosion.

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