Gemination

Gemination is a phonetic phenomenon where a speech sound, usually a consonant, is extended or lengthened. Instead of a single, brief sound, the speaker produces a longer version of that sound, which can change the meaning of words in some languages. For example, in Italian, “fato” (fate) versus “fatto” (done) involves a geminated “t,” meaning the “t” is held or doubled, affecting pronunciation and sometimes meaning. This lengthening can be a natural part of language pronunciation or occur due to speech habits, and it plays an important role in distinguishing words in certain linguistic contexts.