Here's a breakdown:
What happens:
* Two vowels, usually in a sequence like "ai", "oi", or "au", come together in a word.
* The vowels merge into a single vowel, often with a different quality than either of the original vowels.
Example:
* "I am" (two words) → "I'm" (one word, coalescence of /aɪ/ and /əm/)
Factors contributing to vowel coalescence:
* Phonetic context: The sounds surrounding the vowels can influence the outcome.
* Phonological rules: Different languages have different rules about how vowels coalesce.
* Historical change: Vowel coalescence can occur over time as languages evolve.
Examples in English:
* "Going to" → "gonna" (/oʊ/ + /ɪ/ → /ɑː/)
* "Want to" → "wanna" (/wɑː/ + /tə/ → /wɑːnə/)
* "Have to" → "hafta" (/hæv/ + /tuː/ → /hæftə/)
Examples in other languages:
* French: "Je suis" (I am) → "j'suis" (vowel coalescence of /e/ and /y/)
* Spanish: "Y ahora" (and now) → "y'ora" (vowel coalescence of /i/ and /a/)
Key points to remember:
* Vowel coalescence is a common phonological process across many languages.
* It involves the merging of two adjacent vowels into one.
* It often results in a change in the quality of the resulting vowel.
* The specific outcomes of vowel coalescence can vary depending on the language and the phonetic context.
Vowel coalescence is a fascinating aspect of language that demonstrates the fluidity and dynamism of sound systems.