Domains of assimilation: alveolars and velars in English

Abstract

Assimilation phenomena involving lexical alveolars and velars are examined in a Stockport accent. It is suggested that the segment is too narrow a domain of investigation for clues to the differentiation of pairs such as leg kept and lead kept. The vowels either side of the consonantal sequence are involved in any kind of assimilation process that takes place, in many cases producing slight differences in dorsal contact between the alveolars and the velars.