LING 201: Phonological Processes

Devoicing

Voiced consonants become voiceless before/after x

Voicing

Voiceless sound become voiced before/after x

Elision (Deletion)

Omission of a sound in speech

X —> ∅ / [ ]

Epenthesis (Insertion)

Addition of a sound between two others

∅ —> X / [ ]

Metathesis

The switching of two adjacent sounds

C₁V₁C₁ —> C₂V₁C₁

Frication

A stop is replaced with a fricative

Affrication

A stop or fricative becomes an affricate

Gliding

Liquids /l/ & /r/ become glides /w/ ot /j/

Vowel raising

A vowel is pronounced with the tongue in a higher position

Vowel lowering

A vowel is pronounced with the tongue in a lower position

Fronting

A back sound is pronounced further forward in the mouth

Backing

A front sound becomes more back in the mouth

/t/ —> /k/

Reduplication

Part ot all of a morpheme is repeated

Vowel coalescence

Two adjacent vowels merge into a single vowel, often with intermediate quality

Palatisation

A consonant becomes palatal due to influence from a front vowel or glide

Nasalisation

A vowel becomes nasalised before a nasal consonant

V —> [+nasal] / [ __C_[+nasal]]

Lenition (weakening)

A consonant becomes weaker

stop —> fricative

Fortition (strengthening)

A sound becomes stronger

/j/ —> /d3/

Glottalisation

A stop or obstruent is replaced or coarticulated with a glottal stop

t —> ʔ / [ ]