Definition & Bedeutung von "cluster reduction"

What is "cluster reduction"?

Cluster reduction is a phonological process where a consonant cluster, which consists of two or more consonants occurring together in a word, is simplified by omitting one or more consonants. This process often occurs in speech development or in certain dialects for easier pronunciation. For example, the word "spoon" may be pronounced as "poon," where the /s/ sound is dropped. Similarly, "test" might be pronounced as "tes." Cluster reduction is significant in linguistics because it demonstrates how speakers adapt their pronunciation for ease of communication, providing insights into speech patterns and language evolution.