Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
dissimilation
Noun
/dɪsˌɪmɪˈleɪʃən/
Definition
The process of eliminating or reducing similarities between neighboring sounds in speech.
Examples
- In some dialects, the word ‘comfortable’ may undergo dissimilation, pronounced as ‘comfterble.’
- Historical linguistics often examines dissimilation in the evolution of languages.
Meaning
In linguistics, dissimilation refers to changes in the pronunciation of similar sounds in a word or phrase to make them less alike.
Synonyms
- elimination of similarity
- sound change
