1 Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 Assimilation Speakers may be careful enough so as to keep the citation form of a word, or they may simplify the transition between sounds by adapting some of them to the environment in which they occur It is important to note that there is a restriction in terms of the number of changes that can occur at any given time In general, a phoneme will change only one of its distinctive features: for example, if the place of articulation changes, the voicing and manner of articulation tend to remain untouched The most frequent type is regressive assimilation of place For example, in the phrase ‘bad person’ the final voiced alveolar plosive c may be influenced by the following bilabial consonant !azc !o29rm = !aza !o29rm It is interesting to note that although its place of articulation is altered, its voicing and manner of articulation are not Speakers normally want to make the least possible effort to articulate Although some assimilatory patterns may seem extreme to foreign speakers, they are actually so frequent and normal that native speakers are unaware of their existence So much so, that certain combinations of sounds may be subjected to a ‘chain’ or ‘domino’ assimilation The phrase ‘He didn’t come’ may show the bilabialisation of the alveolar sequence cms and the elision of the final plosive s.: gh !cHcm's( !jUl = gh !cHfM'j( !jUl It is worth noticing that the j sound affects neither the manner of articulation nor voicing of the alveolar sequence cm's( According to Cruttenden (2014: 313), either all of the alveolars change, or none DIRECTION: 1.1 Regressive assimilation ( right-to-left, A B ): Regressive assimilation is the most common by far It occurs when a sound changes one of its characteristics under the influence of a following sound Ten men !sdm !ldm = !sdl !ldm Un peso !tm !odrn = !tl !odrn This type of assimilation is thoroughly explained below, under ASSIMILATION OF PLACE 1.2 Coalescence ( A + B = C ): Coalescence is the process by which two sounds merge together and result in a different one Wells (2008: 52) states that YOD COALESCENCE normally affects the words ‘you’ and ‘your.’ It may also be found before unstressed ‘year, yet’ and other words of frequent use YOD COALESCENCE RULE s c .r .y * .i EXAMPLES = sR Won’t you Don’t you !v?Tms it =!v?TmsRt .!c?Tms it =!c?TmsRt = cY Would you? Did you? Should you? Could you? !vTc it = !vTcYt .!cHc it =!cHcYt .!RTc it =!RTcYt .!jTc it = !jTcYt R .Y I miss you As you can `H !lHr it = `H !lHRt ?y it !jzm = ?Yt !jzm Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 Activity 1: Transcribe the following sentences phonemically Show the cases of assimilation in colour Have I told you lately that I hate you? Why don’t you create your own story? Hasn’t your sister finished yet? I suppose you can it Does your boyfriend need you so much? Did you make her use your books? How could you! Did you read your magazine? Has your father let you down? Last year, I visited you Do you remember? 10 I understand your point, but I haven’t passed yet! KEY: 10 Zg?u `H !s?TkcYt !kdHskh C?s `H !gdHsRt\ Z!v`H !c?Tmst jqh!dHsRN9q !?Tm !rsN9qh\ Z!gzymsRN9 !rHrs? !eHmHRsRds\ Z`H r?!o?TYt j?m !ct9 Hs\ Zc?YN9 !aNHeqdmc !mh9cYt r?T !lUsR\ ZcHcYt !ldHj g? !itYN9 !aTjr {{ !g`T !jTcYt\ ZcHcYt !qh9cYN9 $lzf?!yh9m\ Zg?YN9 !e@9C? !kdsRt !c`Tm\ Z!k@9rsRH? { `H !uHyHsHcYt {{ cYt qH!ldla?\ Z`H $Umc?!rszmcYN9 !oNHms { a?s `H !gzums !o@9rsRds\ 1.3 Progressive assimilation This type of change takes place when there is elision of ? due to a process called SYLLABIC CONSONANT FORMATION If ? is omitted, the resulting syllabic nasal may be influenced by the place of articulation of the previous sound: Happen !gzo?m = !gzol< Bacon !adHj?m = !adHjMÈ TYPES OF CHANGE 2.1 Voicing Unlike many other languages, English does not frequently favour assimilation of voice In Spanish, on the contrary, voiceless sounds tend to become voiced in the vicinity of voiced sounds This does not happen in English, so Spanish speakers should be careful never to voice voiceless sounds: E.g Tecnológico $sdfmn!knwhjn Technologic $sdjm?!kPcYHj Étnico !dcmhjn Ethnic !dSmHj However, the opposite may be true in English A final voiced sound might become voiceless in a few closeknit English phrases This is of restricted occurrence because when a final sound is voiceless there is PREFORTIS CLIPPING (Note that ALLOPHONIC DEVOICING occurs anyway, as explained below): Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 ‘Used to’ (semi modal, obligatory !it9r's( s?.) E.g I used to work here Z`H !it∂rs s? !v2∂j gH?\ ‘Used’ (past tense of ‘to utilize’) E.g I used two bags Z`H !it9ycfi !st9 !azfyfifi\ ‘Of course’ Z?u !jN9r = ?e !jN9r\ Z?ufi !jN9r it !jzm = ?efi !jN9r it !jzm\ E.g Of course you can ‘Have to’ (semi modal) E.g I have to it ‘Has to’ (semi modal) E.g She has to study Z`H !gz9u s? !ct9 Hs = `H !gz∂e s? !ct9 Hs\ ZRh !gz9y s? !rsUch = Rh !gz∂r s? !rsUch\ Activity 2: Transcribe the following sentences phonemically Show the cases of assimilation in colour I used to love her, but I have to kill her now She used me as if I were worthless Of course I used to play with wooden swords I used two of these, and I will use some more She has to admit that she has used it all Did you use to go out with my cousin? Did you use my notebook? She used that card to pay for the tickets We used to collect unusual objects 10 You’ll have to get used to it KEY: 10 Z`H !it9rs s? !kUu g? { a?s `H !gze s? !jHk g?\ ZRh !it9yc lh { ?y He `H v? !v29Sk?r\ Z?e !jN9r `H !it9rs s? !okdH vHC !vTcm !rN9cy\ Z`H !it9yc !st9 ?u !Ch9y { ?m `H vHk !it9y r?l !lN9\ ZRh !gzr st ?c!lHs { C?s Rh g?y !it9yc Hs !N9k\ ZcHcYt !it9r s? !f?T !`Ts vHC l`H !jUyHm\ ZcHcYt !it9y l`H !m?TsaTj\ ZRh !it9yc !Czs !j@9c s? !odH e? C? !sHjHsr\ Zvh !it9rs s? j?!kdjs $Um!it9Yt?k !PacYHjsr\ Zitk !gzu s? fds !it9rs st Hs\ 2.2 Place of articulation Alveolar sounds are the most unstable in English (.r+ y+ m and especially s+ c.) Not only are they very frequent, but they are also articulated in the middle of the oral cavity This position enables them to be assimilated into a more advanced or retracted place of articulation This phenomenon is often referred to as DE-ALVEOLAR ASSIMILATION 4 Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 Phonemic changes 2.2.1 Bilabial assimilation The alveolar s+ c+ m may become bilabial before a bilabial sound Notice, however, that the assimilation of s into o is not as frequent as its replacement by a glottal stop* ALVEOLAR + BILABIAL = BILABIAL RULE s.* .c m EXAMPLES Z!Cz> !odm\ nq !Czs !odm = !Czo !odm That pen Z!Cz> !aNH\ nq !Czs !aNH = !Czo !aNH That boy s.= o Z!Cz> !lzm\ nq !Czs !lzm = !Czo !lzm That man o That wind Z!Cz> !vHmc\ nq !Czs !vHmc = !Czo !vHmc !azc !odHm = !aza !odHm Bad pain a .!azc !aNH = !aza !aNH Bad boy c.= a * .!azc !ldm = !aza !ldm Bad men l Bad wine !azc !v`Hm = !aza !v`Hm .Hm !aq`Hsm< = Hl !aq`Hsm< In Brighton v Hm !od?y = Hl !od?y In pairs m.= l Hm l`H!zlh = Hl l`H!zlh In Miami In Wales Hm !vdHky = Hl !vdHky Activity 3: Transcribe the following sentences phonemically Show the cases of assimilation in colour Can we eat a sandwich in bed, Brenda? You told me you would be in bed by midnight, Becky! In Worcester, my dad bought a great painting It was a great bargain In my opinion, this country can’t be such a bad place to live in, Bruce Matt paid a lot more than Paul for that bread and breakfast hotel in Baker Street Can Brian decide when to come back home? Can he put it in black and white? That beautiful bust needed more than ten men to be carried back to the hall That worksheet would bring Ben many ideas Did Polly and Pamela grind much coffee? 10 You’d better start pulling up your socks right before the test KEY: 10 Zj?l vh !h9s ? !rzlvHcY Hl !ada !aqdmc?\ Zit !s?Tka lh { it vTa ah Hl !ada a`H !lHcm`Ho !adjh\ ZHl !vTrs? { l`H !cza !aN9s ? !fqdHo !odHmsHM {{ Ho v?y ? !fqdHo !a@9fHm\ ZHl !l`H ?!oHmh?m { CHr !jUmsqh !j@9lo ah !rUsR ? !aza !okdHr { s? !kHu Hl !aqt9r\ Z!lzo !odHc { ? !kPo !lN9 C?l !oN9k { e? !Czo !ada l !aqdje?rs g?T!sdk { Hl !adHj? !rsqh9s\ Zj?l !aq`H?m cH!r`Ha !vdm s? !jUl !azj !g?Tl {{ j?m gh !oTs Hs Hl !akzj ?l !v`Hs\ ZCzo !ait9s?ek !aUrs { !mh9cHa !lN9 C?m !sdl !ldm { s? ah !jzqha !azj s? C? !gN9k\ ZCzo !v29jrh9o vTa !aqHM !adl !ldmh `H!cH?y\ ZcHa !oPkh ?l !ozl?k? !fq`Hla !lUsR !jPeh\ Zita !ads? !rs@9o !oTkHM !Uo iN9 !rPjr { q`Ho aH!eN9 C? !sdrs\ This type of change is only mentioned by Wells (1992) 5 Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 2.2.2 Velar assimilation The alveolar s+ c+ m may become velar before a velar sound Notice, however, that the assimilation of s into j is not as frequent as its replacement by a glottal stop* ALVEOLAR + VELAR = VELAR RULE s.* c .m That case That game j Red carpet * .c.= f Red glove f Ann can m.= M Ann got it s.= j EXAMPLES Z!Cz> !jdHr\ nq !Czs !jdHr = !Czj !jdHr Z!Cz> !fdHl\ nq !Czs !fdHl = !Czj !fdHl .!qdc !j@9oHs = !qdf !j@9oHs .!qdc !fkUuy = !qdf !fkUuy .!zm !jzm = !zM !jzm .!zm !fPs Hs = !zM !fPs Hs Activity 4: Transcribe the following sentences phonemically Show the cases of assimilation in colour The problems in Greece can get much worse if Britain gains power We can’t go on climbing! She couldn’t cope with it, Greg Did Gimson call you? She made great contributions I need Kate Goldstein, Gladys Brad got goose pimples In contrast with what Glenn claims, I’ll demand greater interest rates Ben couldn’t cope with it, Granny 10 Ted Green called Alan Gray He said Gary’s in Canada KEY: 10 ZC? !oqPak?ly HM !fqh9r { j?M !fdo !lUsR !v29r { He !aqHs?M !fdHmy !o`T?\ Zvh !j@9Mj !f?T !PM !jk`HlHM\ ZRh !jTfMj !j?To vHC Hj !fqdf\ ZcHf !fHlr?M !jN9k it\ ZRh !ldHf !fqdHj $jPmsqH!ait9Rmy\ Z`H !mh9f !jdHj !f?Tkcrs`HM !fkzcHr\ Z!aqzf !fPj !ft9r !oHloky\ ZHM !jPsq@9rs vHC vPj !fkdM !jkdHly { `Hk cH!l@9Mf !fqdHs?q !Hmsq?rs $qdHsr\ Z!adM !jTfMj !j?To vHC Hj !fqzmh\ Z!sdf !fqh9M !jN9kc !zk?M !fqdH {{ gh !rdf !fzqhy HM !jzm?c?\ Prof Francisco Zabala - 2016 2.2.3 Palatoalveolar assimilation The alveolar r+ y may become palatoalveolar before a palatoalveolar sound ALVEOLAR + PALATOALVEOLAR = PALATOALVEOLAR RULE .r y i r.= R .R * Y sR .y.= Y cY This year This shop Miss Jacques This church This job These years These shops Please Jacques These churches These jobs EXAMPLES !CHr !iH? = !CHR !iH? .!CHr !RPo = !CHR !RPo .!lHr !Yzj = !lHR !Yzj .!CHr !sR29sR = !CHR !sR29sR .!CHr !cYPa = !CHR !cYPa .!Ch9y !iH?y = !Ch9Y !iH?y .!Ch9y !RPor =!Ch9Y !RPor !okh9y !Yzj = !okh9Y !Yzj .!Ch9y !sR29sRHy = !Ch9Y !sR29sRHy .!Ch9y !cYPay = !Ch9Y !cYPay Activity 5: Transcribe the following sentences phonemically Show the cases of assimilation in colour Is she Miss Jones? Does Sheila please George? Has she corrected his short story? Maurice Johnson has just changed his job This gym is just what she needs Alice Joyce has joined the armed forces, Sean Bruce Sheridan has shot his sheep Has Janet heard the news, Shirley? What a nice chap! She’s chosen a wise gentleman to be her future husband 10 This is jolly good! This judge is sure to give us just what we want! KEY: 10 ZHY Rh !lHR !cY?Tmy\ Zc?Y !Rh9k? !okh9Y !cYN9cY\ Zg?Y Rh j?!qdjsHc gHY !RN9s !rsN9qh\ Z!lPqHR !cYPmr?m { g?Y !cYURs !sRdHmcYc gHY !cYPa\ ZCHR !cYHl { HY !cYUrs vPs Rh mh9cy\ Z!zkHR !cYNHr { g?Y !cYNHmc Ch !@9lc !eN9rHY !RN9m\ Z!aqt9R !RdqHcm { g?Y !RPs gHY !Rh9o\ Zg?Y !cYzmHs !g29c C? !mit9Y !R29kh\ Z!vPs ? !m`HR !sRzo {{ RhY !sR?Tym ? !v`HY !cYdmskl?m {s? ah g? !eit9sR? !gUya?mc\ ZCHr HY !cYPkh !fTc {{ CHR !cYUcY { HY !RN9 s? !fHu ?Y !cYUrs vPs vh !vPms\