Untitled Flashcards Set

Assimilation

The process by which a sound changes to become more like a nearby sound in connected speech.

Elision

The omission of a sound in rapid speech.

Linking

The insertion of a sound between words to maintain smooth speech flow.

Intrusion

The insertion of an extra sound between words, usually /r/, /w/, or /j/.

Flapping

The pronunciation of /t/ and /d/ as a quick, soft tap of the tongue against the alveolar ridge in American English.

Glottalization

The replacement of /t/ with a glottal stop [Ɂ] in some dialects.

Weak Forms

The unstressed pronunciation of certain function words.

Stress and Rhythm in Connected Speech

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in speech.

Sentence Intonation

The rise and fall of pitch in speech to convey meaning.

Stops (Plosives)

Sounds produced by completely stopping the airflow in the vocal tract, followed by a sudden release.

Fricatives

Sounds produced by forcing air through a narrow constriction, creating a turbulent, hissing sound.

Affricates

Sounds that begin as stops and end as fricatives—there is a complete closure followed by a slow release of air.

Glides (Semivowels)

Sounds that are similar to vowels but function as consonants. They involve a smooth transition of the tongue.

Nasals

Sounds produced by allowing air to pass through the nose while the mouth is closed.