A process by which one sound takes on some or all the characteristics of a neighboring sound, a term often used synonymously with “coarticulation”. If a following sound is influencing a preceding sound, it is called regressive “assimilation”;the converse process, in which a preceding sound is influencing a following sound, is known as progressive “assimilation”.

本题考查同化的含义及类型。 同化指一个音具有了邻近音的一部分或者全部特征的这一过程， 包括鼻化、 齿化、 鄂化。 同化主要包括顺同化和逆同化。顺同化是指在这个过程里前面的相邻音影响了其后音素的发音， 使两者相似。 逆同化是指这样一种过程， 在这个过程中后面的相邻音影响了其前面音素的发音， 使两者相似。