Which feature change is described when the word incomplete is pronounced as [Inkemplit]?

• A. Assimilation
• B. A feature change where [+alveolar] becomes [+velar]
• C. Dissimilation
• D. Metathesis

Answer: (B)

This is about how neighboring sounds influence each other through a change in place of articulation. When incomplete is spoken quickly, the nasal that comes before the following velar stop tends to shift its place of articulation to match the velar context, producing a velar nasal before the /k/ sound. That makes the sequence sound like nk, which in IPA is often written as [ŋk]. So the nasal goes from an alveolar place of articulation to a velar one.

In terms of features, this is a change where the nasal’s place feature moves from [+alveolar] to [+velar]. It’s a clear example of place assimilation, where one sound adapts to the place of articulation of an adjacent sound for easier production.

This isn’t metathesis, which would involve reordering sounds, nor dissimilation, which would make adjacent sounds more different rather than more similar. The core idea here is the alveolar element taking on a velar place to align with the following consonant.