Deformalisation

Pronounce as de-for-ma-li-za-tion with primary stress on the -li- or -za- depending on dialect: US /dɪˌfɔː.mə.lɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/, UK /diːˌfɔː.məl.ɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/, AU /diːˌfɔː.məl.ɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/. Keep the syllables clear and the final -tion as a light shən. Lip rounding is modest and the sequence flows quickly in connected speech.

Common errors: misplacing stress on the wrong syllable (often stressing -li- or -ze- incorrectly); pronouncing the /l/ too lightly or as a vowel-like sound; and rushing the -tion ending into a d- or t-sound. Correction: establish the main trochaic pattern d e-for-ma-li-za-tion; keep the /l/ clear between vowels; finish with a soft, unstressed -ʃən rather than a hard -tion.

US tends to reduce unstressed vowels less aggressively and keeps /ɪ/ in -li- and /eɪ/ in -za-; UK often features a slightly more clipped /ˈzeɪ.ʃən/ and clearer /l/; AU tends toward a more open diphthong in /ɔː/ and a flatter final schwa before -tion. Overall, US can reduce the middle vowels more, UK preserves a crisper onset for -ma- and -li-, and AU sits between. IPA notes reflect rhoticity and vowel qualities across regions.

Difficulties come from multisyllabic structure, consonant clusters, and the sequence -ma-li-za-tion which can melt in rapid speech. The /l/ must stay distinct, and the /z/ in -za- can be confused with -si- or -zi- across dialects. Practicing with slow, deliberate enunciation, then speed, helps maintain accuracy in connected speech. Focus on keeping /ɪ/ or /eɪ/ stable in unstressed segments while avoiding vowel reduction that ruins the word’s rhythm.

A unique feature is the potential for a slight secondary stress shift depending on context: in policy talk it may brighten the -li- (deˌforˈmalɪˌzeɪʃən), while in everyday usage, the emphasis can drift toward the -za- part (/dɪˈfɔː.mərˌlæɪˈzeɪʃən/). This variability reflects emphasis differences in formal vs. conversational registers and is a cue to register and meaning.