What is Metathesis?

Metathesis is a phonological process not present in typical development and indicative of a phonological disorder if present in more than 10% of the child’s speech. In Metathesis, two sounds or syllables (adjacent or not) are reversed within a word.

Examples:

  • desk = decks

  • toast = totes

  • music = zumic

  • wasp = wops

  • spaghetti = pus-ghetti

Please note: Metathesis may be present in a person’s speech as a dialectical difference rather than a phonological process.

 
 

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