What is Assimilation?

Assimilation, also called Consonant Harmony, is a phonological process present in typical development up to the age of 3 1/2 years. In Assimilation, one sound in the word is influencing another sound in the word. There are three main types of Assimilation:

Velar Assimilation (VeA) occurs when a non-velar sound is replaced with a velar sound (“k, g, ng”) due to influence of a velar sound already present within the word.

Examples:

  • cup = kuh-k

  • back = kack

  • dog = gog

  • take = cake

  • sang = gang

Nasal Assimilation (NA) occurs when a non-nasal sound is replaced with a nasal sound because of the influence of a nasal sound already present within the word.

Examples:

  • knife = nine

  • sunshine = nun-nine

  • mug = mung

  • ham = nam

  • lamb = mam

Labial Assimilation (LbA) occurs when a non-labial sound in a word is replaced by a labial sound due to the influence of a labial sound already present within the word

Examples:

  • bin = bim

  • table = bable

  • page = pape

  • make = mape

  • walk = wah-p