Anlauter

Anlauter is a term from German phonetics and linguistics. It refers to the initial sound or sounds of a word or syllable. Specifically, it describes the consonant or consonant cluster that appears at the beginning of a word or syllable before the vowel.

Essentially, the Anlauter is the opposite of the Auslaut (the final sound or sounds of a word or syllable).

The analysis of Anlauter is important in various linguistic studies, including phonology, morphology, and historical linguistics, as it can provide insights into sound changes, word formation processes, and the relationships between languages. The specific combinations and permissible sequences of consonants in the Anlauter are governed by the phonotactic rules of a given language.