An Analysis of Palatalization-Induced Consonant Assimilation in the Speech of Saratov Residents and the Impact of Sociolinguistic Factors

This paper addresses the patterns of consonant palatalization through assimilation observed in the speech of residents of Saratov. The research investigates the development of pronunciation norms in the Russian language by comparing orthographic and phonetic dictionaries. The data comprised linguistic units containing consonant pairs and clusters exhibiting palatalized assimilation, alongside control pairs. Using authentic material collected through unobtrusive observation, the research identifies the retention of the phonetic phenomenon of palatalized consonant assimilation within various types of consonant clusters in Saratov's urban speech, contrasting this with the broader trend of its decline in the Standard Russian language. The article explores the influence of both formal and informal communication contexts on the occurrence of assimilation in different consonant combinations. The importance of this research is underscored by its contribution to understanding sociolinguistic influences on the evolution of consonant assimilation processes and by seeking to clarify the underlying causes of these linguistic changes. The novelty of this work lies in systematically analyzing the phonetic features of consonant palatalization among Saratov residents and comparing these features with current normative standards of the Russian language.