What is Cluster Reduction?
Cluster Reduction (CR), also called Cluster Simplification or Consonant Sequence Reduction, is a phonological process typically lasting up to the age of 4 years.
This process involves the simplification of a consonant cluster by omitting, substituting, or altering one or more of the sounds within that cluster (usually the later developing sound).
Examples:
snack = sack or nack
frog = rog, fog, or flog
bridge = bidge, ridge, or blidge
plate = pate, late, or pate
drive = dive, rive, or dwive
A subset of CR, called Coalescence also involves changing a cluster - by replacing the entire cluster with a consonant sound outside of the original sequence of sounds or cluster.
Examples:
spoon = foon
free = tee
green = ween
drum = gum
clear = dear
Please note: CR may also be present in a person’s speech as a dialectical difference rather than a phonological process.