Obligatory Phonological Processes refer to a set of rules or patterns in phonology that must be applied in a given language or linguistic context. These processes are considered obligatory because they occur predictably and consistently, and their application is necessary to maintain the phonological structure and integrity of a language. Through my research, I have discovered several fascinating obligatory phonological processes that occur across various languages, and I will share some examples and my reactions below. One common obligatory phonological process is assimilation, where a sound becomes more similar to a neighboring sound. For instance, in English, the word "incompatible" undergoes nasal assimilation as the /n/ sound changes to match the following /k/ sound, resulting in [ɪŋkəmpætəbəl]. Another example is progressive assimilation, seen in the word "subway," where the initial /s/ sound is assimilated by the following /b/ sound, becoming [sʌbweɪ]. Another intriguing process is vowel harmony, found in languages like Turkish and Finnish. Vowel harmony dictates that certain vowels in a word or morpheme must share a similar feature, such as front or backness. In Turkish, the suffix "-de" requires harmony, so the word "ev" (house) becomes "evde" (in the house), where the back vowel /o/ in "ev" harmonizes with the back vowel /e/ in the suffix. Metathesis is yet another captivating obligatory phonological process. It involves the rearrangement of sounds within a word. A well-known example is the English word "ask," derived from the Old English word "ascian." The change from /sc/ to /sk/ demonstrates metathesis. One process that caught my attention is dissimilation, where sounds become less similar to their neighboring sounds. For example, in Spanish, the word "fácil" (easy) originally derived from Latin "facilis." The /s/ sound in Latin dissimilated into /θ/ in Spanish to avoid repetition with the /s/ sound in "difícil" (difficult). Thus, "facilis" became "fácil." Studying these obligatory phonological processes has deepened my appreciation for the intricate and systematic nature of language. They showcase how languages evolve and adapt to maintain harmony and ease of pronunciation. Moreover, they highlight the vital role phonology plays in shaping our linguistic experiences. Overall, obligatory phonological processes provide valuable insights into the rules and regularities that govern language sounds. They demonstrate the inherent complexity of language and shed light on the systematic ways in which sounds interact and change. Exploring the diversity of these processes across languages reveals the richness and beauty of human communication.
