What does "coarticulation" refer to?

Coarticulation refers to the overlapping of the articulatory processes during the production of speech sounds. This phenomenon occurs because the movements of the speech organs are not isolated; rather, they influence one another. For example, when pronouncing the sounds in a word quickly, the position of the tongue or lips for one sound may be affected by the sounds that come before or after it. This leads to variations in the articulation of sounds and is essential in understanding how speech is produced naturally and fluidly.

The concept of coarticulation is crucial in phonetics and phonology because it helps explain why certain sounds may blend or change slightly based on their phonetic context. This makes speech more efficient and easier to produce. Remembering this overlaps with ideas of how sounds influence each other can aid in understanding complex phonetic interactions in various languages and dialects.