Which term best describes the sound change where a vowel at the end of a word links with the beginning of the next word?

Which term best describes the sound change where a vowel at the end of a word links with the beginning of the next word?

• A. Assimilation
• B. Elision
• C. Liaison
• D. Juncture

Answer: (C)

Liaison is the phenomenon of linking sounds across word boundaries to create a smooth transition between words. When a word ends with a vowel and the next word begins, speakers often carry a sound over the boundary, so the two words flow together rather than forming a hard break. This bridging can involve pronouncing a final consonant that would normally be silent or inserting a linking sound, especially when the next word starts with a vowel. It differs from assimilation (where sounds become more alike) and elision (where a sound is dropped) and from juncture, which is simply the boundary or pause between words. The described linking of a word-final vowel to the next word exemplifies liaison.

Liaison is the phenomenon of linking sounds across word boundaries to create a smooth transition between words. When a word ends with a vowel and the next word begins, speakers often carry a sound over the boundary, so the two words flow together rather than forming a hard break. This bridging can involve pronouncing a final consonant that would normally be silent or inserting a linking sound, especially when the next word starts with a vowel. It differs from assimilation (where sounds become more alike) and elision (where a sound is dropped) and from juncture, which is simply the boundary or pause between words. The described linking of a word-final vowel to the next word exemplifies liaison.