Regressive Assimilation: What you need to know
Regressive Assimilation: What you need to know
Regressive Assimilation is a process of assimilation that involves the influencing of the terminating sound of a word by the initial sound of the word that follows it. That is, it is a situation whereby the first sound in a word influences the last sound of the word that comes directly or immediately before it in an utterance. For example;
1. Bright girl = will be articulated as /braɪg gɜːl/
2. That book = will be articulated as /ðæb bʊk/
3. That cap = will be articulated as /ðæk kæp/
4. Bright kid = will be articulated as /braɪk kɪd/
5. Light green = will be articulated as /laɪg griːn/
Take note, however, of the changes to the place of articulation of the last sounds of the first words. For example;
That, in 'that book', is usually realized as /ðæt/—ending with the /t/ sound which is a voiceless plosive sound. But when it is used in association with 'book', the first sound, /b/, influences it to be realized with a different place of articulation: the two lips, because the /b/ sound is a Bilabial Plosive as opposed to the /t/ sound which is an alveolar plosive—produced with the alveolar ridge.
Regressive Assimilation is not limited to places of articulation, however, it also extends to manners of articulation. For example;
1. That thing = will be articulated as /ðæθ θɪŋ/
2. Cut those = will be articulated as /kʌð ðəʊz /
You would notice that unlike in the first set of examples where the manners of articulation remain the same while the places of articulation change during regressive Assimilation, here, not only the places of articulation but also the manners of articulation of the sounds involved in the process are affected. For example;
/ð/ which is a fricative sound by manner influences the /t/ sound which is a plosive sound by manner.
Regressive Assimilation also affects the voicing of sounds. That is, it determines whether or not sounds involved in the process are voiced or not. Take for example;
1. Good tea = will be articulated as /gʊt tiː/
2. Big cop will be articulated as /bɪk kʌp/
You would notice in the examples above that the first words: 'good' and 'big' can be phonologically realized as /gʊd/ and /bɪg/ which both end in voiced sounds. But by appearing in association with the following words: tea, and cop, the voicing of their final sounds change from voiced to voiceless.
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