What is epenthesis phonological process?

Epenthesis is a phonological process in which a sound is added to a word, typically a vowel, to make it easier to pronounce. This process is often used when two consonant sounds that are difficult to pronounce together occur in a word. The added sound is usually a neutral vowel, such as /ə/ or /ɪ/, and is inserted between the two consonants to separate them. For example, when pronouncing the word 'hamster', an epenthetic sound /p/ may be added between the consonants /m/ and /s/ to make it easier to pronounce.

Epenthesis can also occur when a speaker is trying to pronounce a word from a different language that has different consonant clusters or syllable structures that are not present in their native language. In this case, an epenthetic sound is added to make the word easier to pronounce and more understandable to the listener.

There are different types of epenthesis, such as intrusive epenthesis, where a sound is added when speaking quickly, and preservative epenthesis, where a sound is added due to a speech disorder or habit. Epenthesis is a common phenomenon in many languages and can sometimes change over time, leading to phonetic changes in a language over generations.