Practical tasks: Adjustment phenomena: identify the phonetic process in each word or

word combination.

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1. restaurant – Assimilation (Nasal Assimilation: /n/ becomes /ŋ/ before /t/)

2. lamb – Consonant cluster reduction (Reduction of the consonant cluster /mb/ to a

single nasal consonant sound /m/)

3. old boy – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /d/ becomes /b/ before /b/)

4. stature – Postvocalic “r” deletion (The word "stature" may be pronounced as

/ˈstætʃə/ with the /r/ sound not realized)

5. pegs – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /g/ becomes /k/ before /s/)

6. believe – Final vowel reduction (The final "e" is not realized in the pronunciation,
resulting in the standard phonetic representation of /bɪˈliːv/)

7. Gnat – Initial consonant elision (The initial "g" is not realized in the pronunciation,
resulting in the standard phonetic representation of /næt/)

8. good-bye – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /d/ becomes /b/ before /b/)

9. did you – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /d/ becomes /dʒ/ before /j/)

10. I can see her – Consonant cluster simplification (Specifically, the phonetic
process is the reduction or elision of the consonant clusters /kən si/ and /si hər/): 1.
The /k/ sound in "can" may be elided or reduced, resulting in the pronunciation /ən/.
2. The /s/ sound in "see" may assimilate with the /n/ sound in "can," resulting in the
pronunciation /si/. 3. The /h/ sound in "her" may be elided or reduced, resulting in the
pronunciation /ər/.

11. thought – Consonant cluster simplification (The reduction or elision of the

consonant cluster /θt/. In this process, the /θ/ (theta) and /t/ sounds are combined or
simplified.)

12. right – Consonant cluster simplification (The reduction or elision of the consonant
cluster /ght/. In this process, the /g/ and /h/ sounds are silent or not pronounced)
13. glad to see – Consonant cluster simplification (Specifically, the phonetic process
involves the reduction or elision of the consonant clusters /dl/ and /ts/ in this phrase;
1. The /d/ and /l/ sounds in "glad" may assimilate, resulting in the pronunciation of
/ɡl/. 2. The /t/ and /s/ sounds in "to see" may assimilate, resulting in the pronunciation
of /ts/.)

14. graduate – Consonant cluster simplification" that occurs. (Specifically, the

phonetic process involves the reduction or elision of the consonant cluster /dj/.)

15. said that – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /d/ becomes /t/ before /ð/)

16. car owner – Consonant cluster simplification" that occurs. (Specifically, the
phonetic process involves the reduction or elision of the consonant cluster /r əʊn/; 1.
The /r/ sound in "car" may be reduced or not pronounced, especially in non-rhotic
accents. 2. The /əʊ/ sound in "owner" may be reduced to a shorter vowel sound, such
as /oʊ/ or /ə/.)

17. congratulate – Consonant cluster reduction (Simplified /ngr/ cluster and

assimilated /tl/ cluster.)

18. territory – Consonant cluster reduction (The simplification or elision of the /r/
sound and the reduction of the /ɪt/ sounds.)

19. sun blind – Assimilation (Nasal Assimilation: /n/ becomes /m/ before /b/)

20. For questions – Consonant cluster reduction (The simplification or elision of

the /r/ sound and the reduction of the /kw/ sounds)

21. all right – Assimilation (Vowel Assimilation: /l/ becomes /r/ before /r/)

22. mashed potato – Vowel elision (The unstressed "e" in "mashed" and the
unstressed "o" in "potato" are elided, resulting in their omission during speech.)

23. lamb – Consonant cluster reduction (Reduction of the consonant cluster /mb/ to a
single nasal consonant sound /m/)

24. bird call – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /d/ becomes /dʒ/ before /k/)

25. Would you mind moving? – Consonant cluster reduction (The "d" and "y"
sounds are omitted to make the pronunciation smoother and more efficient)
26. fast motion – Assimilation (Consonant Assimilation: /t/ becomes /ʃ/ before /m/)

27. this shop – Consonant omission (The "s" sound in "this" is elided or dropped in
certain contexts, particularly when followed by a consonant sound like the "sh" sound
in "shop.")

28. west side – Assimilation (Vowel Assimilation: /t/ becomes /s/ before /s/)

29. Christmas – Consonant cluster reduction (The "t" and "s" sounds in "Christmas"
are often omitted in certain accents or in casual speech, resulting in the pronunciation
"kris-muhs" or "kris-mas.)

30. at peace – Flapping (The "t" in words like "at" is often flapped or deleted,
resulting in the pronunciation "uh peace" instead of "at peace”)

3.What minimal distinctive feature (or features) makes these oppositions

phonologically relevant?

leak – league

The opposition between /l/ and /r/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal distinctive
feature that distinguishes these sounds is voicing. /l/ is a voiceless lateral
approximant, while /r/ is a voiced retroflex approximant.

share-chair

The opposition between /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is manner of articulation. /ʃ/ is a
voiceless postalveolar fricative, while /tʃ/ is a voiceless postalveolar affricate.

mass – mash

The opposition between /s/ and /ʃ/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal distinctive
feature that distinguishes these sounds is place of articulation. /s/ is a voiceless
alveolar fricative, while /ʃ/ is a voiceless postalveolar fricative.
bad- bat

The opposition between /d/ and /t/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal distinctive
feature that distinguishes these sounds is voicing. /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop,
while /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

caught – bought

The opposition between /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is vowel height. /ɔ/ is a mid-back
rounded vowel, while /ɑ/ is a low-back unrounded vowel.

back – bag

The opposition between /k/ and /g/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is voicing. /k/ is a voiceless velar
stop, while /g/ is a voiced velar stop.

cat – cut

The opposition between /æ/ and /ʌ/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is vowel height. /æ/ is a low-front
unrounded vowel, while /ʌ/ is a mid-central unrounded vowel.

sigh- high

The opposition between /s/ and /h/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is manner of articulation. /s/ is a
voiceless alveolar fricative, while /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative.

sit-set

The opposition between /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal distinctive
feature that distinguishes these sounds is vowel quality. /ɪ/ is a lax close front
unrounded vowel, while /ɛ/ is a lax open-mid front unrounded vowel.

pan-tan

The opposition between /p/ and /t/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal distinctive
feature that distinguishes these sounds is manner of articulation. /p/ is a voiceless
bilabial stop, while /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

why-lie
The opposition between /w/ and /l/ is phonologically relevant. The minimal
distinctive feature that distinguishes these sounds is manner of articulation. /w/ is a
voiced labio-velar approximant, while /l/ is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant.