alveolarization
|al-ve-o-lar-i-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌælviəˌlɔːrəˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌælviəˌlɒrəˈzeɪʃən/
making or becoming alveolar
Etymology
'alveolarization' is formed in modern English from the adjective 'alveolar' + the noun-forming suffix '-ization' (from '-ize' + '-ation'). 'Alveolar' itself is used in English to describe relation to an 'alveolus' (a small cavity or hollow).
'alveolar' comes from Latin 'alveolus' (a diminutive of 'alvus', meaning 'belly' or 'hollow'); the adjective 'alveolar' appeared in scientific/medical use in English and was later extended to phonetics; from that adjective the derived noun 'alveolarization' was formed in English by adding the productive suffix '-ization'.
Originally related to the literal sense of a 'small cavity' ('alveolus'), the term 'alveolar' came to name the ridge behind the upper teeth in anatomy, and later was extended to describe sounds articulated there; 'alveolarization' therefore shifted from a physical/anatomical reference to a phonetic process meaning 'making or becoming alveolar'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or result of becoming or making a sound articulated at the alveolar ridge (the ridge just behind the upper front teeth); in phonetics, substitution or shift of sounds toward alveolar articulation.
Alveolarization of certain consonants is common in child language development.
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Verb 1
(transitive) To cause a sound to become alveolar; (in phonetics) to replace or shift articulation of a sound toward the alveolar ridge.
Linguists may alveolarize a dental consonant in phonological description.
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Last updated: 2025/08/16 11:51