What type of speech error involves omitting sounds or syllables from words?

The correct answer to the question is C, which refers to the phenomenon of omitting sounds or syllables from words. In the context of speech errors, omission specifically involves leaving out certain phonetic elements during speech production. This can often be observed in various speech disorders or even in typical speech patterns, particularly in children as they learn to articulate words properly.

Omission can be a common occurrence in everyday speech for individuals who may be struggling with clarity, articulatory precision, or who may be in environments where they are trying to speak quickly. This type of error can significantly affect the intelligibility of speech and is an important area of focus for speech-language pathologists working with individuals experiencing communication disorders.

In contrast, reduction refers specifically to the simplification of sounds, which may not necessarily involve complete omission. Substitution entails replacing one sound with another rather than omitting it entirely, while addition involves inserting extra sounds into words, which is a different type of speech error altogether. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the nature of the speech errors and their impacts on communication.