Which process means a sound becomes more like a following sound?

• A. Progressive assimilation
• B. Regressive assimilation
• C. Elision
• D. Epenthesis

Answer: (B)

Regressive assimilation occurs when a sound changes to become more like a following sound. The influence travels from the right to the left, affecting the preceding segment. A classic example is the pronunciation of input, where the nasal before a following bilabial stop often becomes bilabial itself, turning n into m so the word is heard as imput [ˈɪmpʊt]. This shows the preceding sound shifting to match the place of articulation of the following sound. By contrast, progressive assimilation would involve the earlier sound pulling the later one toward it; elision is omission, and epenthesis is insertion. The described process is regressive assimilation.