Palatalization

Questions on this topic? Just ask!

n. 1. The phenomenon in which a segment whose primary articulation is at some other location is articulated with a secondary articulation involving the raising of the front of the tongue towards the palate or (with back consonants) the moving of the constriction forward towards the palate. Palatalization is transcribed in the IPA by a superscript [j] (e.g., [pj], [kj]), in American transcription by a superscript [^y] (e.g., [p^y], [k^y]), and in some specialist traditions by other devices, such as a prime (e.g., 2.

Any phonological process in which a segment which formerly lacked palatalization in sense 1 acquires it. 3. Any phonological process in which a non-palatal segment is converted to a palatal or palato-alveolar segment. V. palatalize; adj. palatalized.

This is the complete article, containing 122 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).

View More Summaries on Palatalization