For blending sounds within a word:
* Assimilation: This is the technical term for when sounds change to become more similar to sounds around them.
* Elision: This refers to the omission of sounds within a word, often due to rapid speech.
* Coarticulation: This describes the way sounds influence each other in a word, often leading to subtle changes in pronunciation.
For blending sounds across words:
* Liaison: This refers to the linking of sounds between words, particularly in connected speech.
* Slur: This is an informal term for when sounds are pronounced together in a way that is difficult to understand.
* Fusion: This is a more formal term for when sounds merge together, losing their individual identity.
Other possibilities:
* Connected speech: This is a general term for how sounds change when spoken naturally in a sentence, as opposed to in isolation.
* Phonetic reduction: This describes the shortening or simplifying of sounds in rapid speech.
The best word to use will depend on the context and the specific type of sound blending you are referring to.