What is assimilation in child language development?

Assimilation in child language development refers to the process whereby a child changes one sound in a word to make it more similar to another sound in that word, leading to a more harmonious pronunciation. This phenomenon often occurs when children are learning to articulate words and may substitute one consonant or vowel for another because of the influence of nearby sounds. Such substitutions simplify pronunciation and make speech production easier for young children as they develop their linguistic skills.

This process is a natural part of language acquisition and showcases the child’s evolving understanding of phonetic patterns. The selection of this answer reflects an understanding of how children adapt sounds within the constraints of their developing phonological system.