Which phonological term describes the linking of a consonant at the end of a word with a vowel at the beginning of the next word, with no pause?

• A. Catenation
• B. Assimilation
• C. Elision
• D. Liaison

Answer: (A)

When sounds flow from one word into the next without a break, the key idea is a continuous chain of articulation across word boundaries. This linking of the final consonant of one word with the initial vowel of the next is called catenation. It captures the sense of sounds being linked together in a seamless string, rather than stopping between words.

Why this fits best: The description centers on forming a smooth, uninterrupted sequence by connecting the end consonant to the beginning vowel of the following word. That continuous connection is precisely what catenation denotes, focusing on the chaining of sounds across words.

For comparison, elision is about dropping a sound in fast speech, not about linking; assimilation involves sounds changing to become more like neighboring sounds, which is a different process; and liaison is a specific term used in some languages (notably French) to describe pronouncing a normally silent final consonant before a following vowel. Catenation is the broad term that covers the general idea of cross-word linking.