Linguistics 1104 - Chapter 5 Definitions (Phonological Processes)

Place Assimilation

A process that occurs when adjacent sounds become similar in terms of their place of articulation.

Homorganic Nasal Assimilation (HNA)

A process that occurs when a nasal has the same place of articulation as the following consonant.

Palatalization

A process that occurs when coronals and dorsals become alveopalatal or palatal before a front or high vowel.

Affrication

A process that occurs when coronal plosives become affricates in the presence of a front or high vowel.

Vowel Lowering

A process that occurs when high vowels become mid vowels before or after a uvular consonant or vowel.

Manner Assimilation

A process that occurs when adjacent sounds become similar in terms of their manner of articulation.

Voicing Assimilation

A process that occurs when consonants that are in a cluster have the same value of voicing.

Intervocalic Spirantization

A process that occurs when a stop consonant acquires the continuant manner of the vowels that surround it.

Lenition

Refers to a mixture of process that occur when consonants become weaker in their intervocalic positions.

Nasalization

A process that occurs when a vowel becomes nasalized when it comes before or after a nasal consonant.

Total Assmiliation

A process that occurs when a consonant stores properties with another non-adjacent consonant in a word.

Consonant Harmony

A process that occurs when a consonant shares its features with another non-adjacent consonant in a word.

Total Consonant Harmony

A type of consonant harmony that involves the full consonant features being shared between the two consonants.

Partial Consonant Harmony

A type of consonant harmony that involves only some of the consonant's features being shared.

Vowel Harmony

A process that occurs when a vowel shares properties with another non-adjacent vowel in a word.

Total Vowel Harmony

A type of vowel harmony that involves the full vowel features being shared between the two vowels.

Partial Vowel Harmony

A type of vowel harmony that involves only some of the vowel's features being shared.

Dissimilation

A process that occurs when adjacent sounds become dissimilar in terms of place or manner of articulation.

Neutralization

A process that occurs when there is a loss of phonemic contrast in a given phonological environment.