Assimilation and Phonotatics

Assimilation

Assimilation is two sounds that are different become more a like. (Fasold & Connor-Linton, 2006: 44)

For examples:

I can go  /aikaŋgo/

Ten mice  /tem maɪs/

The word “can” may be pronounced as [kæn], but we say “I can go”, the influence of the velar [g] will almost certainly make the preceding nasal sound come out as [ŋ] (the velar nasal) rather than (n) (the alveolar nasal).

Phonotatics

Phonotactics in defined by Fromkin and Rodman (1998: 270) as squential constraints; rules stating permissible strings of phonems.

For examples:

·      Word like instruct /ɪnstrʌkt/ with the medial cluster /nstr/

·      Word like explicit /ɛksplɪzɪt/ with the medial cluster /kspl/