NASALIZATION Meaning and
Definition
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Nasalization is a linguistic term referring to the process by which a sound becomes nasalized, typically resulting in the addition of nasal resonance to the sound. It involves the modification of a non-nasal sound so that air is allowed to pass through the nasal cavity, causing it to become nasal in quality.
In languages with nasal vowels and nasal consonants, nasalization is a natural phenomenon. Nasalization can occur through different mechanisms, such as the velum being lowered to allow airflow through the nasal passage.
In phonetics, nasalization is represented by a tilde (~) placed above the symbol of the sound being nasalized. For example, in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the nasalized vowel [ã] is written as [a~]. Nasalization can affect both vowels and consonants, either independently or in combination.
Nasalization can be contrastive in some languages, where the presence or absence of nasalization can change the meaning of a word. For instance, in certain African languages, a nasalized vowel versus a non-nasalized vowel can distinguish between different lexical items.
Furthermore, nasalization can also occur as assimilation, where a sound becomes nasalized due to the influence of a nearby nasal sound. This process is often observed in fast speech or within specific phonological contexts.
Overall, nasalization is a phonetic and phonological process that involves the addition of nasal resonance to sounds, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity and resulting in distinct nasal qualities in speech.
Common Misspellings for NASALIZATION
Etymology of NASALIZATION
The word nasalization is derived from the Latin word nasus, meaning nose. In Latin, nasus referred to the nose as an organ or a part of the face. The Latin word was then combined with the suffix -izare, meaning to make or become, to form nasalizare, which meant to make nasal. Over time, the word underwent further changes, including the addition of the suffix -ation, which indicates the act or process of, resulting in the word nasalization.
Similar spelling words for NASALIZATION
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