­Assimilation is a process of changing of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the neighboring sound.

Assimilation

­ Assimilation is a process of changing of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the neighboring sound.

Assimilation, exists in every language.

Types of assimilation can be distinguished according to: (1) direction. (2) degree of completeness. Assimilation can affect the place of obstruction (eg. tenth) and the active organ of speech; the work of the vocal cords (eg. оглушение sweep, try); the position of the lips (twain); the position of the soft palate (eg. handsome, d станов n под его влиян); the manner of the release of plosive consonants (deep blue).

1. Direction of Assimilation.

The influence of the neighboring sounds in English can act in a progressive, regressive or reciprocal (double) direction.

When some articulatory features of the following sound are changed under the influence of the preceding sound, which remains unchanged, assimilation is called progressive.

For example.

· The pronunciation of the plural suffix -s of nouns depends on the quality of the preceding consonant: it is pronounced as [z]after voiced consonants, eg pens [penz], calls [k L lz) and as [s] after voiceless consonants, eg desks [desks] books [buks]. (фр взр)

· Within the words sandwich, grandmother. etc under the influence of [n] the consonant [d] changed into [n] and then disappeared. (элизия. t/d между 2 взрывн)

When the following sound influences the articulation of the preceding one assimilation is called regressive. For example, within the word width and in the word combination in them the alveolar [d] and [n] become dental, before the interdental [T] and [D].

Reciprocal or double assimilation means complex mutual influence of the neighboring sounds. For example. within the word tree [tri:] the sonorant [r] is partly devoiced under the influence of the voiceless [t] and the alveolar [t] becomes post-alveolar before the post-alveolar [r].

2. Degree of Completeness.

According to its degree, assimilation can be complete and incomplete. Assimilation is called complete in the case the two neighboring sounds become alike. We find cases of complete assimilation within words, eg cupboard ['kAbqd]; and at the word junction in fluent speech, eg less shy ['leSSai). Complete assimilation is also found in Russian eg сжать, без сил, брат друга. Assimilation is called incomplete when the likeness of the neighboring sounds is partial as the assimilated sound retains (keep, save) its major articulatory features. For example. the sonorants [w, l, r] are partly devoiced when preceded by the voiceless fortis [p, t, k, s­ f,] within words: sweet, place, try

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