palatalization

Etymology

palatal + -ization or palatalize + -ation. Earliest instance 1863 (palatalisation does already occur in 1862 in W. H. I. Bleek's A comparative grammar of South African languages. Part I. Phonology)

noun

1. (phonology, uncountable) The state or quality of being palatalized, of pronouncing a sound with the tongue against the palate of the mouth that normally is not.
   The word "nature" is commonly pronounced with a palatalization of the letter t to sound like ch.
2. (phonology, countable) An instance of pronunciation in which a sound is palatalized.