Mássalhangzótorlódások

Mássalhangzótorlódások, often translated as consonant clusters, are sequences of two or more consonant sounds that occur without a vowel sound in between. These occur in many languages and can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of words. For example, in English, "split" features a three-consonant cluster at the beginning (/spl/) and another at the end (/t/).

The phonetic realization and perceived difficulty of consonant clusters can vary significantly across languages. Some languages, like Polish, are known for their extensive and complex consonant clusters, while others, such as Japanese, tend to avoid them, often inserting vowel sounds to break them up. This phonological feature can impact word recognition, pronunciation, and the overall rhythm of a language.

Linguists study consonant clusters to understand the phonotactic rules of a language, which govern how sounds can be combined. The presence and nature of consonant clusters can also be a factor in second language acquisition, as learners may struggle to produce or perceive these sequences accurately if they are not present in their native tongue. The study of these clusters contributes to our understanding of human speech production and perception.