Assimilation is defined as “the process by which sounds are influenced by neighbouring sounds and

come to share some or all of their phonetic characteristics”

Such an assimilation of the points of contact of words can take two forms: either the final segment of
the first word changes under the influence of the initial segment of the second word (regressive
assimilation) or the initial segment of the second word is changes (progressive assimilation).

Is Sheila in Canada? /ɪʃ ʃiːlə ɪn kænədə #/ regressive assimilation.

I’d like some bacon. /aɪd laɪk səm beɪkŋ #/ progressive assimilation.

Assimilation of place of articulation

This is the most frequent type of assimilation. In the majority of the cases they are regressive:

● /n/ becomes /m/ before /p,b,m/.

ten pies /tem paɪz #/
ten boys /tem bɔɪz #/
ten men /tem men #/

● /n/ becomes /ŋ/ before /k,ɡ/.

ten cups /teŋ kʌps #/
ten girls /teŋ ɡɜːlz #/

● /s/ becomes /ʃ/ before /ʃ, j/.

this shovel /ðɪʃ ʃʌvl #/
this year /ðɪʃ ʃɪə #/

● /z/ becomes /ʒ/ before /ʃ, j/.

these shirts /ðiːʒ ʃɜːt #/
those young boys /ðəʊʒ jʌŋ bɔɪz #/