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lambdacism

lambdacism

9.9
A speech problem where someone has trouble saying the L sound clearly
  • noun
  • /ˈlæmbdəˌsɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lambdacismo
  • The speech therapist diagnosed his difficulty with the /l/ sound as lambdacism.

Examples

  • Her mild lambdacism made it challenging to pronounce certain words clearly.

  • Many children grow out of lambdacism as they develop their speech.

  • Children affected by lambdacism may substitute other sounds for /l/ or exaggerate its use.

  • The child's lambdacism made it difficult to understand her.

  • The speech therapist diagnosed his difficulty with the /l/ sound as lambdacism.

  • Her mild lambdacism made it challenging to pronounce certain words clearly.

  • Many children grow out of lambdacism as they develop their speech.

Synonyms

speech defect
vslambdacism
  • Specialized
1 4.8

Difficulty speaking clearly that makes others hard to understand

refers specifically to unusual or excessive L sound production rather than general speech problems
lallation
vslambdacism
  • Specialized
9.9

Difficulty making the sound L, sometimes using L instead of R

focuses on too much or unusual use of the L sound rather than substitutions
misarticulation
vslambdacism
  • Specialized
8.6

Saying speech sounds the wrong way, often in children

is limited to excessive or atypical pronunciation of the L sound specifically
defect of speech
vslambdacism
  • Specialized
5.9

A problem that makes someone speak unclearly or have trouble saying words

focuses on the particular excessive L sound issue rather than broad speech abnormality

Surface Forms

lambdacism singular
lambdacisms plural

Morphology

lambdacism = lambda (semi-transparent) = lambdac + ism

The term is transparently formed from the Greek letter name (lambda) + the technical suffix '-ism', but it is a specialized clinical term and the combining form 'lambdac-' is not a standalone English word, so ordinary learners may not deduce the meaning.

Etymology

Lambdacism comes from the Greek letter lambda, which stands for the 'L' sound. So the word names a speech problem about how someone makes the 'L' sound.