Assumptions refers to beliefs or statements taken for granted without sufficient evidence, often shaping expectations or conclusions. It typically involves inferring or presuming something to be true based on incomplete information, which can lead to misinterpretation. In discourse, assumptions influence argument structure and can become points of contention when challenged.
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"Her argument rested on several assumptions about the market that turned out to be incorrect."
"Before designing the study, we should examine the underlying assumptions of the model."
"If you make assumptions about someone’s motives, you might miss important context."
"The professor warned that the conclusion depends on certain assumptions being valid."
Assumptions comes from the Latin assumere, meaning to take to oneself, from ad- ‘to’ + sumere ‘take up, take on.’ In English, the term entered as a legal and philosophical concept in the 14th–16th centuries, evolving from the notion of taking something upon oneself or accepting responsibility, to the broader sense of taking for granted a belief or premise. By the 17th century, assumptions appeared in logic and rhetoric to describe propositions accepted without proof, which later broadened to everyday reasoning and inference. Over time, the plural form assumptions emphasized multiple presuppositions within arguments, conversations, or models. The word’s semantic trajectory tracks a move from concrete taking up of items or responsibilities to abstract acceptance of beliefs, often without verification. First known uses appear in scholastic and legal contexts, with widespread usage in philosophy and social sciences by the 1800s. The evolution reflects a shift from formalized acceptances to informal cognitive shortcuts that people rely on in reasoning and communication. Today, assumptions are a critical term in discussing bias, theory-building, and critical thinking across disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "assumptions"
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Pronounce as-sump-tions with primary stress on the second syllable: ə-SYOOMP-shənz. The key is the 'sume' part, which in many accents sounds like 'syoom' (the /j/ sound following the /s/). The final -ions yields /ənz/. Try to keep the second syllable slightly elongated without turning it into a dull schwa. IPA: US /əˈsjuːmp.ʃənz/, UK /əˈsjuːmp.ʃənz/, AU /əˈsjuːmp.ʃənz/.
Common errors: 1) stressing the first syllable (a-SU-mptions) instead of second (/əˈsjuːmp.ʃənz/). 2) mispronouncing /sjuːm/ as /sɪm/ or /sum/ and losing the /j/ sound after s. 3) pronouncing the final -ions as /əz/ rather than /ənz/. Correction tips: practice the /ˈsjuːm/ cluster by starting with ‘few-jump’ style lip rounding and keep the /j/ close to the alveolar ridge; end with a clear /z/ or /nz/ depending on the phonotactics of your accent.
US and UK both place primary stress on the second syllable, but US listeners may hear a slightly stronger rhotic flavor in connected speech; the /r/ is not present in this word, though rhythm and vowel quality can shift. UK readers often have a lightly tighter /j/ after /s/, producing /ˈsjuːm/. Australian speakers typically maintain the same vowel quality as US/UK but may have a flatter intonation and shorter vowels in rapid speech. In all, the key determinants are the /ə/ initial, /ˈsjuːm/ middle, and /p/ plus /ʃənz/ tail.
Difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /s/ + /j/ immediately after the initial vowel, producing /ˈsjuːm/ that can be softened to /ˈsjum/ in rapid speech. The unstressed first syllable uses a schwa, which blends with the following /ˈsjuːm/ to form a smooth rhythm. The plural ending /-ənz/ muses a reduction to a nasal + voiced sibilant that can be mispronounced. Focus on keeping the /j/ close to the palate and maintaining the contrast between syllables.
A unique aspect is maintaining the sonority profile across syllables: from the vowels in the first syllable to the high-front vowel in the /ˈsjuːm/ segment, you should preserve a clean onset for the second syllable and prevent insertion of extra vowels in the middle. A subtle, not heavy, /m/ before the /p/ helps the transition, and the final /z/ or /nz/ should be crisp, not silent. IPA cues: /əˈsjuːmp.ʃənz/.
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