Consonantal Assimilation in Modern Persian: A Feature Geometry Approach

The present research aims to examine consonant to consonant assimilation in Modern Persian and account for its behavior within Feature Geometry (FG) of phonological theorizing. Results show that Persian language is sensitive to C-place, vocalic nodes, and terminal features. Moreover, the highest spaces sensitive to assimilation in Persian are nasal and arguably lateral nodes. The repercussions of the findings are both theoretical and applied. Regarding the former, FG's claims are corroborated by assimilation evidence from Persian. It is also argued that the lateral node needs to be subsumed under the root and a uvular node to be posited under the dorsal; two significant contributions to FG regarding the type and placing of nodes.