Assimilation

Consonants can undergo modifications under the influence of their environment. These modifications affect the sound : no vibration or vibration of the vocal cords. This phenomenon is called: sound assimilation.

In certain circumstances, a voiceless consonant belonging to a voiceless/voiced pair becomes voiced. Or, conversely, a voiced consonant becomes a voiceless consonant.

voiceless consonants	voiced consonants
[p]	[b]
[t]	[d]
[f]	[v]
[s]	[z]
[k]	[g]

Example:

• Obtenir: the voiceless consonant [t] influences the pronunciation of the voiced consonant ⁣; the consonant [b] loses its vocal quality and is pronounced [p].
• Absent: the voiceless consonant [s] influences the pronunciation of the voiced consonant ⁣; the consonant [b] loses its vocal quality and is pronounced [p].

The mute E

The fall of the silent E will lead to the connection of two consonants. Assimilation can occur.

Example:

• Médecin: I don’t pronounce the E because there is only one consonant pronounced in front. The phonetic consonants [d] and [s] are then side by side. In this case, the voiced consonant [d] will be influenced by the pronunciation of the voiceless consonant [s]. You must then pronounce the sound [t]. Médecin (doctor) is pronounced [metsɛ̃].