"conversion into palatal sounds," 1863, from palatal. Related: Palatalize (1851);palatalized; palatalizing.
Entries linking to palatalization
palatal adj.
1728, of sounds, "uttered by the aid of the palate," from palate + -al (1). By 1786 as "of or pertaining to the roof of the mouth." As a noun, "a sound or letter usually produced by the upper surface of the tongue against a part of the palate," by 1762.