Assimilation vs. Elision: Two Ways Sounds Change
Both assimilation and elision are phonetic processes that alter the sounds of words, but they differ in their approach:
Assimilation:
* Definition: A sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound.
* Mechanism: One sound "borrows" features from another sound, often in terms of place of articulation (where in the mouth the sound is made), manner of articulation (how the air is released), or voicing (whether the vocal cords vibrate).
* Example: The "t" in "good night" often becomes a "d" sound, assimilating to the following "n" sound.
Elision:
* Definition: A sound is completely dropped or omitted.
* Mechanism: Typically occurs to simplify pronunciation or because of the specific combination of sounds.
* Example: The "r" sound in "butter" is often dropped in casual speech, resulting in "butta".
Key Differences:
| Feature | Assimilation | Elision |
|-----------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Sound change | Modified or altered | Omitted or deleted |
| Mechanism | Influence from neighboring sounds | Simplification of pronunciation |
| Result | Sound becomes more similar | Sound is entirely removed |
Examples:
* Assimilation:
* "Have to" becomes "hafta" (the "v" assimilates to the following "t").
* "Can't you" becomes "can'tcha" (the "t" assimilates to the following "y").
* Elision:
* "Going to" becomes "gonna" (the "g" and "t" are elided).
* "Library" becomes "libry" (the "r" is elided).
In summary: Assimilation changes a sound, while elision removes a sound. Both processes contribute to the natural flow and variation of language, making speech more efficient and fluid.