Why might some speakers spell the word hamster as hampster? In other words,
where does the p come from?
Why do some speakers delete the first /r/ in library (“liberry”)?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The phenomenon of spelling “hamster” as “hampster” and pronouncing “library” as “liberry” arises due to linguistic processes called epenthesis and metathesis, along with influences from phonetic similarity and ease of articulation.
Why the “P” in “Hampster”?
The insertion of a /p/ in “hamster” is an example of epenthesis, where a sound is added to make a word easier to pronounce. In the case of “hamster,” the /m/ and /s/ sounds are close together and require a quick transition between bilabial (/m/) and alveolar (/s/) articulations. Adding a /p/ creates a smoother glide from the nasal /m/ to the fricative /s/, as /p/ is a natural bilabial stop sound that fits between them. Phonetically, people may unconsciously insert this sound because it feels more intuitive to articulate.
Additionally, many people are influenced by the spelling of similar words like “hamper,” which already contains a /p/. This orthographic similarity can reinforce the mistaken pronunciation.
Why “Liberry” Instead of “Library”?
The transformation of “library” to “liberry” is an example of metathesis, where sounds are rearranged, and consonant cluster reduction, where certain sounds are simplified or omitted in casual speech. The word “library” includes two /r/ sounds in close proximity. Pronouncing both requires precision, so speakers often drop the first /r/ to reduce effort, simplifying it to “liberry.” This change also aligns with the common rhythm of English, favoring easier and faster transitions between sounds.
Additionally, exposure to others using “liberry” can reinforce this pronunciation through social and linguistic normalization, especially in informal contexts or among young children.
Summary
Both “hampster” and “liberry” stem from natural tendencies in human speech to simplify or adapt complex sound patterns. These changes make articulation easier and reflect the influence of similar sounds and words in a speaker’s environment.