Describe the process of metathesis in phonological rules.

Metathesis is a phonological process that involves the rearrangement of sounds or syllables within a word. It occurs when two adjacent sounds or syllables switch positions, resulting in a change in the word's pronunciation.

In metathesis, the order of sounds or syllables is altered to create a more phonetically or phonologically favorable structure. This process can occur due to various factors, such as ease of articulation, perceptual ease, or phonotactic constraints.

For example, in English, the word "ask" is pronounced as /æsk/. However, in some dialects or speech patterns, metathesis may occur, resulting in the pronunciation /æks/. The /s/ and /k/ sounds switch positions, changing the word's pronunciation.

Metathesis can also occur with larger units, such as syllables. For instance, in the word "comfortable," some speakers may pronounce it as /kʌmftərbəl/ instead of the standard /kʌmfərtəbəl/. The syllables /ft/ and /rt/ switch positions, altering the word's syllable structure.

Overall, metathesis is a phonological process that involves the rearrangement of sounds or syllables within a word, resulting in a change in pronunciation. It can occur due to various factors and can affect individual sounds or larger units like syllables.