Assimilation (phonology)

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In phonology, assimilation is a sound change in which some phonemes (typically consonants or vowels) change to become more similar to other nearby sounds. This process is common across languages and can happen within a word or between words. For example, in English the plural suffix -s alternates voicing depending on the preceding consonant: pots versus pods . Assimilation can be categorized by both its direction and its distance. Regarding direction, sound segments typically assimilate to a following sound, known as regressive or anticipatory assimilation. They may also assimilate to a preceding one, known as progressive or perseverative assimilation. Regarding distance, assimilation most commonly occurs between immediately adjacent sounds, known as adjacent, contact, contiguous, or local assimilation. However, it may also occur between sounds that are separated by others, known as distant, long-distance, or remote assimilation. While assimilation occurs in normal speech environments...

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