Final answer:
In linguistics, assimilation is the merging of adjacent sounds in speech due to factors like ease of articulation, with 'C' being the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
In linguistics, assimilation is the merging of adjacent sounds in speech.In linguistics, assimilation is the merging of adjacent sounds in speech due to factors like ease of articulation, with 'C' being the correct answer. This process involves certain phonemes (sounds) in a word becoming more similar to neighboring sounds, which can occur due to ease of articulation or rapid speech.
For example, in English, the word 'input' may be pronounced as 'imput' with an 'm' sound because the lips are already closed at the end of the word 'in' - making it easier to transition directly to the 'p' sound of 'put'.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'What is assimilation in linguistics?' is C) The merging of adjacent sounds in speech. It is not related to becoming bilingual, adapting to a new culture, or the formation of new languages.