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labialization

labialization

9.1
Pronouncing a sound with rounded lips
  • noun
  • /ˌleɪbiəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : labialización
  • In linguistics, labialization occurs when a sound is produced with rounded lips, such as the pronunciation of the 'w' in 'water'.

Examples

  • This parameter was designed to reveal increasing effects of anticipatory labialization toward the end of the fricative.

    Academic text (2013)
  • During the phonetics class, we examined instances of labialization, observing how it changes the articulation of specific sounds.

  • The study focused on the labialization of certain consonants in different languages to understand how lip rounding affects speech.

How Labial

labialization
  • Specialized
9.1
to round
  • Specialized
3 9.0
unrounded
  • Specialized
7.3

Surface Forms

labialization singular

Morphology

labialization = labial (transparent) = labial + ization

Formed from 'labial' with the noun-forming suffix '-ization' describing the process of adding lip articulation.

Etymology

Labialization comes from the Latin word labium, which means 'lip'. In speech it means adding lip rounding or using the lips when you make a sound, so the word tells you the sound is made with the 'lips'.