When our mouths are already preparing for the next sound segment this is called coarticulation. True False

Coarticulation is indeed a fascinating aspect of spoken language! It refers to the phenomenon where the articulation of one sound is influenced by the sounds that come before and after it. Think about it like a dance – your mouth is shimmying and shifting to smoothly transition from one sound to the next, making speech fluid and natural. In real-life situations, coarticulation can have surprising effects on how words are pronounced! For example, the way we say "cat" versus "bat" may differ slightly based on the neighboring sounds or the speed of speech. This can sometimes lead to miscommunication if not accounted for, especially in rapid conversation or in different accents. It's a reminder of just how complex and captivating human speech really is!