ASSIMILATION

Assimilation in English phonetics is a process where a sound changes to

become more like a neighboring sound. This change can occur in place, manner, or
voicing of articulation, making speech smoother and more efficient. Assimilation is
common in natural, connected speech and can happen both within words and
between words. It reduces the effort needed to switch between different places,
manners, or voicing of articulation, making speech smoother and faster. When
analyzing assimilation, we usually mean the assimilation of consonants, as they are
generally more prone to such phonetic changes than vowels.

Types of Assimilation

Regressive assimilation: A sound changes to match the place of

articulation of a following sound.

Examples:
ten books /tembʊks/

input /ˈɪmpʊt/

very sad boys /ˈveri sæb bɔɪz /

Similarly, "ten bikes" may be pronounced as /ˈtembaɪks/, where the /n/

changes from a nasal sound to match the bilabial articulation of /b/.
"Input" → /ˈɪnpʊt/ becomes /ˈɪmpʊt/, where /n/ changes to /m/ to match the
bilabial /p/.
"Have to" → /ˈhæv tu/ becomes /ˈhæf tu/, where /v/ (voiced) becomes /f/
(voiceless) to match the voiceless /t/.
"In Paris" → /ɪn ˈpærɪs/ becomes /ɪm ˈpærɪs/, where /n/ changes to /m/
before the bilabial /p/.
"Good girl" → /ɡʊd ɡɜːrl/ becomes /ɡʊɡ ɡɜːrl/, where /d/ changes to /ɡ/ to
match the velar /ɡ/.
"That place" → /ðæt pleɪs/ becomes /ðæp pleɪs/, where /t/ changes to a
plosive /p/ to match the following plosive /p/.

Here is a list of consonants that undergo regressive assimilation:

Consonants Examples

/n/ → /ŋ/ before /k/, /g/ in case [ɪŋ keɪs]

/t/ → /p/ before /p/, /b/, /m/ hot pie → [hɒp paɪ]
/n/ → /m/ before / p/, /b/, /m/ in bath → [ˈɪm bɑːθ]
/d/ → /b/ before /p/, /b/, /m/ good boy → [ɡʊb bɔɪ]
 /s/ → /ʃ/ before /ʃ/, /j/ this shop → [ðɪʃ ʃɒp]
/z/ → /ʒ/ before /ʃ/, /j/ those shoes → [ðəʊʒ ʃuːz]
/d/ → /g/ before /k/, /g/ cold game → [kəʊlg ɡeɪm]
/θ/ → /s/ before /s/ north side → [nɔːs saɪd]
/t/ → /k/ before k/, /g/ hot cake → [hɒk keɪk]

Progressive assimilation: A sound changes to match the place of

articulation of a preceding sound. This type is less common in English. The most
common example of progressive assimilation is the plural of nouns.
Examples:
"dogs": dog [dɔg] + plural -s [s] → dogs [dɔgz]. Here, the [s] sound in the
plural suffix changes to [z] to match the voiced [g] in "dog."
"cats": cat [kæt] + plural -s [s] → cats [kæts]. The [s] sound in the plural
suffix remains [s] because it follows a voiceless consonant [t].
"buzzes": buzz [bʌz] + plural -es [ɪz] → buzzes [bʌzɪz]. The [z] sound in
"buzz" remains voiced [z] and the suffix [ɪz] matches the preceding sound.

Coalescent Assimilation
Coalescent assimilation occurs in connected speech when consonants [t],
[d], [s], or [z] are followed by [j], causing them to change to [ʈʃ], [dʒ] [ʃ], or [ʒ],
respectively.
“Should you take the wrapping off?”
/ ʃədʒʊ teɪk ðə ˈræpɪŋ ɒf / or / ʃədʒə teɪk ðə ˈræpɪŋ ɒf /
This merging of two adjacent sounds into a new sound is also called
"coalescence" or simply "fusion". Coalescence involves palatalization, as alveolar
sounds adjust their place and manner of articulation under the influence of the palatal
glide [j], bringing the tongue closer to the hard palate.

Examples of Coalescence in English Connected Speech:

/t/ + /j/ → /tʃ/ don’t you [ˈdəʊntʃʊ] or [ˈdəʊntʃə]

/d/ + /j/ → /dʒ/ would you [ˈwʊdʒʊ] or [ˈwədʒə]

/s/ + /j/ → /ʃ/ this year [ðɪˈʃɪə]

 /z/ + /j/ → /ʒ/ these years [ðiːˈʒɪəz]

Task 1. Check your understanding of assimilation. Answer the True or False

questions to find out the secret word.
True False

1. Assimilation occurs when a sound changes to resemble a R T

neighboring sound.
2. Assimilation can only happen between words, not within O E
words.
3. Assimilation makes speech more efficient by increasing the N S
effort needed to articulate sounds.
4. In English, consonants are more prone to assimilation than E I
vowels.
5. Progressive assimilation is more common than regressive S M
assimilation in English.
6. Regressive assimilation occurs when a sound changes to match N B
the articulation of a preceding sound.
7. In the phrase "input", the /n/ changes to /m/ due to the influence L M
of the bilabial /p/.
8. Coalescence is a form of assimilation where alveolar A O
consonants like [t], [d], [s], or [z] become [ʈʃ], [dʒ], [ʃ], or [ʒ]
when followed by [j].
9. The word "cats" shows progressive assimilation as the [s] M N
remains voiceless because it follows a voiced consonant.
10. Palatalization causes the tongue to move closer to the velum. I C

11. Palatalization occurs when alveolar sounds change due to the

influence of [j], moving the tongue closer to the hard palate. E S

* Secret word:

Task 2. Listen to the sentences and identify where assimilation occurs.

What time is your appointment?

And so, when you have that point of view, then, literally, the
world becomes your library.
So many guys tell stories about your work ethic.
Task 3. Below is the transcription, which shows the changes in consonants due
to assimilation. Write the corresponding text.

1. / ɪt wəz ə ɡreɪk ɡəʊl /

2. / ðə ˈɡʌvᵊnmənt həz ɪmˈpruːvd ðə hels ˈsɜːvɪs /
3. /ʃi əˈplaɪd fər ə ɡriːŋ kɑːd tə lɪv ənd wɜːk ɪn ðə juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts /
4. /ðə ˈfɑːmə ˈkaʊntɪd teŋ ɡəʊts ɪn ðə ˈpɑːsʧə/
5. /lets miːt ət ðəp pɑːk nɪə ðə ˈrɪvə/
6. /ˈɑːftər ə lɒŋ deɪ, aɪ ɪnˈʤɔɪ ˈteɪkɪŋ ə hɒp bɑːθ/
7. /wi bɔːt freʃ steɪks frəm ðə ˈləʊkᵊl miːp ˈmɑːkɪt/
8. /ðə ˈtiːʧə ˈhændɪd aʊt tem penz tə ðə ˈstjuːdᵊnts/
9. /wi həd freʃ ɡriːm biːnz wɪð ˈdɪnə/
10. /kəd jə pliːz ɡɪv mi wʌm mɔː ˈmɪnɪt/

Task 4. Underline the consonants that undergo assimilation in fast connected

speech.
1. The dog was a good boy for not barking during the night.
2. We avoided the bad park because it wasn’t well-maintained.
3. Playing with a hard ball can be dangerous indoors.
4. This ship is the largest one in the fleet.
5. The base year for the study was 2010.
6. Has she finished her homework yet?
7. These years have been the most challenging for us.
8. That was a good call to cancel the event due to the weather.
9. The movie’s plot revolves around catching the bad guy.
10. We need to listen to both sides of the argument.
11. The children filled the buckets with sand at the beach.
12. That cat always sits by the window.
13. Last night’s match was a great game to watch.

Task 5. Identify the consonants that are likely to be assimilated in fast

connected speech.
1.Put down that gun.
2. It could be better.
3. You should come.
 4. I can see ten boys.
5. She’s not better than me.
6. Then go for it!
7. Is that clear?

Task 6. The following phrases are written the way they are heard in connected
speech. Rewrite them in standard spelling.
1. whike cap
2. fak cat
3. reb pen
4. reg car
5. a bik cold
6. im bed
7. ing case

Task 7. These sentences are written exactly the way they sound in connected
speech. Rewrite them in standard spelling.
1. Have you major sandwiches yet?
2. I pass chew on the street today.
3. What May July to the police?
4. Picture kids up from school yet?
5. I didn’t know you’d soldier flat!

Task 8. Listen to the song and identify where assimilation occurs.

Hello, hello, nice to meet you, voice inside my head
Hello, hello, I believe you, how can I forget?
Is this the place that I call home
To find what I’ve become?
Walk along the path unknown
We live, we love, we lie
Deep in the dark, I don’t need the light
There’s a ghost inside me
It all belongs to the other side
We live, we love, we lie.

Task 9. Watch the excerpts and identity where assimilation occurs. Underline
the assimilated sounds in the corresponding transcripts and note the sounds
you hear.
 Excerpt 1
– Oh, thank God.
– I don’t know what I was thinking.
– Joanne,
– Let’s go. Oh my God, hey!
– OK, just get in the car, pretend you don't see him.
– We made eye contact.
– OK, well, close your eyes.
– Close my eyes? I don't know. Come on, Just get in.
– Sorry I couldn't get out of there faster.
– All good.

Excerpt 2
– My dad said you were there. I wish I’d have known.
– Surprise. Dumb idea.
– No, it's... it's great to see you. Glad you came.
– Me too.
– I saw the boat. It's beautiful. It's great. I’m happy for you.
– You want to come inside?
– Theresa!
– I'm... sorry.
– What I said must’ve hurt you.
– No, no. I just heard what you couldn't tell me, or maybe what I couldn't hear.
And I... I understand now. I think it's so beautiful, the way you love.
– Theresa…
– Just… No, you don't have to say anything.
– It’s what made me want to find you.
– Then stay with me. Come inside. Just stay as long as you want.
– Garrett, I thought about a lot of things sitting out here. And I can't stay. Because
if you can, you'll come to me when it's right. And Garrett, if it's not right, it's okay,
because I wouldn't regret one minute... Not one.
– Theresa, I don't want to lose you.
– Then don’t.
Excerpt 3
"When you got God, you got a friend. And that friend is you! To
my family. That’s who and what I look forward to. To my father,
who I know is up there right now, with the big pot of gumbo.
He's got a lemon meringue pie over there; he's probably in his underwear, and he's
got a cold can of Miller Lite. He's dancing right now. To you, Dad, you taught me
what it means to be a man.

For my mother, who's here tonight, who taught me and my two older brothers and
demanded that we respect ourselves. And what we, in turn, learned was that we
were better able to respect others. Thank you for that, Mama.

To my wife, Camila, and my kids, Levi, Vida, and Livingston, the courage and
significance you give me every day when I go out the door is unparalleled. You
are the four people in my life that I want to make the most proud of me. Thank
you.

And to my hero, that's who I chase. When I was 15 years old, I had a very
important person in my life come to me and say, "Who's your hero?" and I said,
"I don't know. I gotta think about that. Give me a couple of weeks." I come back
two weeks later, and this person comes up and says, "Who’s your hero?" I said,
"I thought about it; you know what I said? It's me in 10 years."

Turned 25, 10 years later that same person comes to me and goes, "So are you a
hero?" and I was like, "Not even close, no, no, no." She said, "Why?" I said,
"Because my hero's me at 35." So you see, every day, every week, every month,
and every year of my life, my hero's always 10 years away. I'm never going to be
my hero; I'm not gonna attain that. I know I'm not, and that's just fine with me,
because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing."

Excerpt 4
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all
sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't
care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you
there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit.
It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can
take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know
what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing
to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be
because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're
better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what
happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But
until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life."