Nasalization: meaning, definitions and examples

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nasalization

 

[ ˌneɪ.zəl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

linguistics term

Nasalization refers to the process by which a vowel sound or a consonant sound is produced with a lowered velum, allowing air to escape through the nose as well as the mouth. This phonetic phenomenon occurs in several languages around the world, making certain vowels or consonants nasal in nature. The degree of nasalization can vary, influencing pronunciation and meaning in phonetic contexts. Nasalization can also occur in connected speech, where sounds influence one another.

Synonyms

nasal inflection, nasal quality, nasal sound

Examples of usage

  • The nasalization of the vowel affected the word's meaning.
  • Many French vowels undergo nasalization.
  • In Portuguese, nasalization changes the syllable structure.
  • Nasalization can be perceived in everyday conversation.
  • The study of nasalization is essential in phonology.

Translations

Translations of the word "nasalization" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nasalização

🇮🇳 नासलाइजेशन

🇩🇪 Nasalisation

🇮🇩 nasalisasi

🇺🇦 назалізація

🇵🇱 nazalizacja

🇯🇵 鼻音化

🇫🇷 nasalisation

🇪🇸 nasalización

🇹🇷 nazalizasyon

🇰🇷 비음화

🇸🇦 تمعدن

🇨🇿 nazalizace

🇸🇰 nazalizácia

🇨🇳 鼻音化

🇸🇮 nazalizacija

🇮🇸 nasaalizun

🇰🇿 назализация

🇬🇪 ნაზალიზაცია

🇦🇿 nazalizasiya

🇲🇽 nasalización

Word origin

The term 'nasalization' is derived from the Latin word 'nasus', which means 'nose'. The concept emerged in the field of linguistics and phonetics, particularly to describe articulatory features related to sound production. The suffix '-ization' is used to form nouns indicating a process or action. Nasal sounds were studied in the context of language development and phonemic awareness, contributing to our understanding of speech. Over the years, as phonetics and acoustics evolved, the term became integral to discussions on how language varies and how speech can be affected by physiological factors. Phonologists have categorized nasalization in terms of its phonetic realization and its phonological implications across languages, fostering an interest in the variations of sound systems globally.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,461, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.