kielipehmeä

Kielipehmeä is a Finnish term that describes a specific phonetic phenomenon. It refers to the assimilation of a stop consonant, such as /k/, /p/, or /t/, to a following palatal fricative or affricate, typically /s/ or /ts/. This process results in the stop consonant becoming softer and more palatalized. For example, in Finnish, the word "kukka" (flower) might be pronounced with a "k" sound that is influenced by the following "k" sound, leading to a slightly different articulation.

This phenomenon is not unique to Finnish and can be observed in various languages, though the specific sounds involved and the resulting phonetic changes may differ. In Finnish linguistics, kielipehmeä is an important aspect of understanding the phonological rules and natural speech patterns of the language. It can occur across word boundaries as well as within words. While not always consciously perceived by native speakers, it plays a role in the fluidity and naturalness of spoken Finnish. The term itself, "kielipehmeä," literally translates to "tongue-soft," referring to the softening of the articulation. It is a descriptive term used in phonetics and phonology to categorize this type of sound change.