Deaspiration

/ˌdiːˌæspɪˈreɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The linguistic process of removing or losing the aspiration (breathy quality) from consonants.

Etymology

From deaspirate + -ion suffix (forming nouns from verbs). The noun form refers to the phenomenon itself rather than the action. Found in historical and comparative linguistics.

Kelly Says

Languages are constantly evolving, and 'deaspiration' is one of the many sound changes that happen over centuries—in some dialects of English and Romance languages, consonants have gradually lost that breathy quality that makes them sound crisp and clear.

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