The different pronunciation of the plural marker -s? ?in the words dogs and cats illustrates which type of sound pattern?
A) One feature of a sound affects the same feature of a neighboring sound.
B) One feature of a sound affects a different feature of a neighboring sound.
C) One feature of a sound affects the same feature several syllables over.
D) One feature of a sound affects a different feature several syllables over.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pronunciation of the plural marker -s in "dogs" and "cats" varies depending on the final sound of the word it attaches to, illustrating assimilation, where one feature of a sound (in this case, voicing) affects the same feature of the neighboring sound (the plural marker becomes voiced or voiceless to match the preceding sound).

The Different Pronunciation of the Plural Marker -S? ?In the Words