2959: Progressive and Regressive Assimilation Jan 27, 2025

In Hebrew, the forms מנין (m'naian) and מאין (m'ain) both derive from the root מן (min, meaning "from") and the combining form אן- ('where'), yet they exhibit different phonological processes due to regressive and progressive assimilation. Progressive assimilation occurs when a sound influences the one before it, and in מנין (m'naian), the nasal consonant of the suffix -אן affects the root מן, resulting in a smooth, nasalized n sound in both parts of the word. This creates a cohesive and fluid pronunciation. On the other hand, מאין (m'ain) demonstrates regressive assimilation, where a sound is influenced by the following one. In this case, the -אן suffix triggers a change in the root vowel, altering the vowel sound and giving the form a different phonetic structure. The difference between the two forms highlights how phonological assimilation reshapes words depending on whether the influence comes from preceding or following sounds.