On the table

This type of assimilation is common in Russian, too.

Абсолютно

В кино

Субпродукт

Reciprocal assimilation means complex mutual influence of the adjoining sound.

Tree

The sonorant [r] is partially devoiced under the influence of the voiceless [t]. And the alveolar [t] becomes past-alveolar before [r].

Try

Tram

Trace

2) Degree of completeness

According to its degree assimilation can be complete and incomplete (partial). Assimilation is called complete if two adjoining sounds become alike or merge into one. It always takes place when two sounds differ only in one articulatory feature. We find cases of complete assimilation within words and at the word junction but in fluent speech.

Cupboard – [kà b«d]

Horseshoe – [h: sSu: ]

Less shy

By the way complete assimilation is also found in Russian.

Отделать

Отдать

Сжать

Без сил

Брат друга

Assimilation is called incomplete when the likeness of the adjoining sounds is partial as the assimilated sound remains its major articulatory features.

[w, v, l] are partly devoiced when precedes by the voiceless [p, t, k, s, f, T]

Sweet – [swi: t]

Place – [pleis]

Try – [trα i]

3) Degree of stability

Many assimilatory phenomena of older stages in the development of language have become obligatory. Such changes which have taken place over a period of times within words are called historical.

Orchard (фруктовый сад) – [: tS«d]

Originally it was pronounced [: dj«d]

Besides there are a lot of widely spread non-obligatory uses of assimilation, which can be traced mainly at word boundaries.

Ten minutes – [tem minits]

Light coat – [lα ik kÎ Ut]

Has she – [heS Si]

Didn’t you

Could you

Non-obligatory assimilation are characteristic of fluent spontaneous informal or careless speech and surely should be avoided by teachers.

Elision – loss of a sound. Reduction of some consonant clusters was established long ago.

1) The initial (начальная) [w, k, g] may be dropped

Write

Know

Gnat

Knit

2) The medial sounds are dropped [t, d] in a cluster of three consonants

Listen – [lisn]

Often – [ fn]

Wednesday

3) The final [b] is dropped in the cluster [mb]

Lamb – [lQm]

Dump – [dà m]

In the present day English the reduction of clusters continuous to take place.

Last time – [lα: stα im]

Mashed potatoes – [mQSpoteit«s]

Next day – [neksdei]

Old man – [Î Ul mQn]

The alveolar sound of the negative form “-nt” is often reduced before a consonant.

You mustn’t do – [mà sn du: ]

The reduction of consonant clusters is also typical in the Russian language.

Сердце

Солнце

Поздно