Question

(LAN) Which of the following is true about coarticulation?

A. When producing speech we blur phonemes
B. When producing speech we enunciate each phoneme separately
C. When understanding speech you are expecting the separation of phonemes from the person speaking to you.
D. When you finish speaking one phoneme you take a moment before speaking the next.

Answer 1

Coarticulation occurs when we blur phonemes in speech production, making sounds connected and fluid, unlike the clearer articulation required during presentations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question revolves around the concept of coarticulation in speech production. The correct statement regarding coarticulation is A: When producing speech we blur phonemes. Coarticulation refers to the way speech sounds are not produced in isolation; rather, the articulators are influenced by the sounds that come before and after them.

For example, the way we say the 't' in the word 'star' is influenced by the 's' that precedes it and the 'a' that follows. In everyday speech, we tend to connect sounds seamlessly, which helps make speech more fluid and faster but can also blur the phoneme boundaries. This natural speech process differs from the more pronounced articulation typically seen in presentations or formal speeches.