Assimilation

Assimilation is a process of alteration of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the adjoining sound. Assimilation can affect the work of the vocal cords; the position of the lips; the position of the soft palate.

Types of assimilation can be distinguished according to:

(1) direction, (2) degree of completeness, (3) degree of stability.

DIRECTION OF ASSIMILATION. The influence of the neighbouring sounds in English can act in a progressive, regressive or double direction.

- When some articulatory features of the following sound are changed under the influence of the preceding sound, which remains unchanged, assimilation is called progressive (calls – z, books – s)

- When the following sound influences the articulation of the preceding one assimilation is called regressive (in them)

- Double assimilation means complex mutual influence of the adjacent sounds.

DEGREE OF COMPLETENESS. According to its degree, assim. can be complete and incomplete.

Assimilation is called complete in the case the two adjoining sounds become alike or merge into one (cupboard). Assimilation is called incomplete when the likeness of the adjoining sounds is partial as the assimilated sound retains its major articulatory features (sweet)

DEGREE OF STABILITY. Many assimilatory phenomena of older stages in the development of the language have become obligatory in modern English, they, may, or may not be reflected in spelling. Such changes which have taken place over a period of time within words are called historical (orchard – ort + yard)

There are a lot of widely spread but non-obligatory cases of assimilation which can be traced mainly at word boundaries, eg ten minutes ['tem'minits] Non-obligatory assimilations are characteristic of fluent or careless speech and should he avoided by public speakers.