Which term involves inserting extra sounds, such as adding a syllable during pronunciation?

Which term involves inserting extra sounds, such as adding a syllable during pronunciation?

• A. Epenthesis
• B. Elision
• C. Transformations
• D. SIOP model

Answer: (A)

Inserting an extra sound during pronunciation is epenthesis. This term describes adding a sound—usually a vowel—inside a word to make articulation easier or to fit the language’s permissible sound patterns. You’ll hear it when a speaker inserts a small vowel to break up a cluster, such as saying athlete as ath-uh-lete. This added syllable helps the mouth move smoothly and keeps the word within the language’s phonotactic rules. Elision, by contrast, involves dropping a sound, not adding one. The other options don’t describe this pronunciation change.

Inserting an extra sound during pronunciation is epenthesis. This term describes adding a sound—usually a vowel—inside a word to make articulation easier or to fit the language’s permissible sound patterns. You’ll hear it when a speaker inserts a small vowel to break up a cluster, such as saying athlete as ath-uh-lete. This added syllable helps the mouth move smoothly and keeps the word within the language’s phonotactic rules. Elision, by contrast, involves dropping a sound, not adding one. The other options don’t describe this pronunciation change.