Определение и Значение "coarticulation"

What is "coarticulation"?

Coarticulation refers to the phenomenon where the articulation of one sound influences the production of another sound in speech. This occurs because speech sounds are produced in quick succession, causing the articulators, such as the tongue and lips, to overlap in their movements. For example, when saying the word "suit," the position of the lips for the "s" sound affects how the following "u" sound is produced, resulting in a slightly different quality than if the sounds were pronounced in isolation. Coarticulation is important in phonetics because it reflects the fluid nature of speech and contributes to the natural flow and efficiency of spoken language.