Phonological Process

Syllable Structure Processes

Sound changes that affect the structure of the syllable.  

Cluster reduction/simplification

Simplifies consonant cluster into a single consonant

(sɑp/stop, sip/sweep). 

—Syllable Structure Processes

Reduplication

Syllable structure is simplified. Second syllable becomes a repetition of the first in terms of syllable shape

(wɑwɑ/water, beɪbi/blanket).

—Usually results in CVCV syllable shape.  

—Syllable Structure Processes

Weak syllable deletion/syllable reduction

The unstressed syllable is omitted

(baut/about, rɑf/giraffe). 

—Syllable Structure Processes

Final consonant deletion

Last sound (coda) is omitted, which results in an open syllable.

(dɔ/dog, bo/boat).  

—Syllable Structure Processes

Initial consonant deletion

First sound is omitted

(æt/hat, iŋ/king).  

—Syllable Structure Processes

Epenthesis

-Inserting a schwa or other vowel between consonants in a cluster (bəlu/blue).

-Inserting a vowel before a consonant cluster, usually an /s/ blends (ɛstɑr/star in Spanish Influenced English).  

—Syllable Structure Processes

Metathesis

Two adjacent sounds switch place

(kæst/cats, æks/ask). 

—Syllable Structure Processes

Diminutization

Adding a vowel, sometimes an /i/, to the end of a noun (kʌpi/cup).  

—Syllable Structure Processes

Substitution Process

Sound changes in which one sound class is replaced with another.

Fronting

Place of articulation is more anterior (toward the front) than the intended sound posterior sound (toward the back). Sounds are produced in the front of the mouth. 

-2 types: velar & palatal

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation  

Velar Fronting

Says an alveolar instead of a velar.

Velars: /k, g, ŋ/

Alveolars: /t, d, n, s, z, l/. (tæt/cat, dot/goat). 

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Palatal Fronting

Says an alveolar instead of a palatal.

Fronts palatals /ʃ/ or /ʒ/.

Fronts affricates /tʃ/ or /dʒ/.

Typically, they are fronted with alveolars /t, d, n, s, z, l/ or the /ts/ or /dz/ sounds. (su/shoe, mɛzɝ/measure, dʌmp/jump, tu/chew, wɑts/watch). *Also called stopping of affricates. 

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Backing

Says a velar instead of an alveolar sound.

Velars: /k, g, ŋ/

Alveolars: /t, d, n, s, z, l/

Place of articulation is more posterior than the intended anterior sound. Sounds are produced in the back of the mouth.

(griŋk/drink, gʌmɑlɪʃ/demolish).  

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Palatalization

Saying a palatal /ʃ/ or /ʒ/ instead of the intended sound.

(ʃu/Sue). 

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Labialization

Saying a labial sound instead of a nonlabial.

(f/θ, v/ð)

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Alveolarization

Change a nonalveolar sounds, mostly interdental and labiodental sounds, into alveolar ones.

(sʌm/θʌm). 

—Substitution Process

—Changes in Place of Articulation

Changes in Place of Articulation

changes in way words is pronounced  

Stopping

Says a stop instead of a fricative.

Fricatives are /f, v, ð, θ, ʃ, s, z, h, ʒ/.

Stops are /p, b, t, d, k, g, and glottal stop/

(tu/shoe, bækjum/vacuum). 

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Stopping of Affricates

Says a stop instead of an affricative.

Affricates are /tʃ and dʒ/.

Sometimes lumped under general process called “stopping”

(tu/chew, dʌg/jug). 

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Stopping of glides

Stops glides. Glides are /w/ and /j/

(dɛb/web), dɛdo/yellow).  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Stopping of liquids

Stops liquids. Liquids are /r/ and /l/

(pɪŋ/ring, dif/leaf).  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Stopping of nasals

Stops nasals. Nasals are /n, m, ŋ/

(hæbo/hammer, daɪf/knife). 

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Affrication

Says an affricate instead of a fricative.

Affricates are /tʃ and dʒ/

Fricatives are /f, v, ð, θ, ʃ, s, z, h, ʒ/

(tʃu/shoe).  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Deaffrication

Says a fricative instead of an affricate.

Affricates are /tʃ and dʒ/.

Deletes the stop feature of the sound but retains the fricative feature. 

(ʃiz/cheese)

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Denasalization

Says a plosive instead of a nasal.

Nasals are /n, m, ŋ/

Plosives are /b, p, k, g, t, d/

(dud/noon) 

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Gliding of liquids / Fricatives

Says a glide instead of a liquid (*wɛd/red, jeɪk/lake) or a glide instead of a fricative (ju/shoe).

Liquids are /r/ and /l/

Glides are /w/ and /j/

Fricatives are /f, v, ð, θ, ʃ, s, z, h, ʒ/. *Also called liquid simplification  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Vowelization / Vocalization

Says a vowel instead of a syllabic (word final)

/l/, ɚ, ɝ, and word final rhotics.

(teɪbo/table, lædʊ/ladder) 

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Derhotacization

The loss of the r-coloring on ɚ and ɝ (bɛd/bird), usually in medial position in words. May be called vowelization/vocalization if the loss occurs in the word final position.  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Liquids simlifcation

Includes gliding of liquids. Errors on rhotics and syllabic “l” would not be coded as liquid simplification.  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Liquidization

Changes any nonliquid consonant to a liquid /l/ or /r/

(lɪg/pig, laɪv/five)

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Stridency Deletion

Deletes stridency from strident consonants through deletion or replacement of nonstrident consonant or glottal stop.

Stridents are /f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/.

*Remember, /ð and θ/ are NOT stridents.  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Glottal Replacement

Uses a glottal stop (/ʔ/) to replace any consonant.

*Use of a glottal stop is not considered a deletion.  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Manner of Articulation

Voicing

Using a voiced sound instead of a voiceless one

(du/two)  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Voicing

Devoicing

Using a voiceless sound instead of a voiced one

(pit/beet)  

—Substitution Process

—Change in Voicing

Labial Assimilation

Using a labial sound instead of a nonlabial sound. Occurs because of the influence of a neighboring labial sound.

(fwiŋ/swing). 

—Substitution Process

—Assimilation Process (Consonant Harmony)

Velar Assimilation

Using a velar sound instead of a nonvelar sound. Occurs because of the influence of a neighboring velar sound.

(gɑg/dog). 

—Substitution Process

—Assimilation Process (Consonant Harmony)

Nasal Assimilation

Using a nasal sound instead of a non-nasal sound. Occurs because of the influence of a neighboring nasal sound on a non-nasal sound.

(mʌni/bunny)

—Substitution Process

—Assimilation Process (Consonant Harmony)

Liquid Assimilation

Using a liquid instead of a nonliquid. Occurs because of the influence of a liquid on a neighboring nonliquid sound.

(lɛloʊ/yellow).  

—Substitution Process

—Assimilation Process (Consonant Harmony)