Palatalization (sound change)

Okay kiddo, palatalization is when some sounds in words change because you say them near the roof of your mouth, which is called the palate. Think of the roof of your mouth like a little cave in your mouth. When you make certain sounds, like "t" or "s," you can bring your tongue up closer to the roof of your mouth. This changes how the sound comes out, and it becomes a new sound.

For example, the "t" sound in the word "tea" is made by touching your tongue to the back of your top teeth. But if you say the word "cheese," you bring your tongue up closer to your palate while making the "t" sound. This new sound is called the "ch" sound.

Another example is the "s" sound in the word "sip." When you say "fish," you again bring your tongue up closer to your palate while making the "s" sound. This new sound is called the "sh" sound.

So, palatalization is like a special trick you can do with the sounds in words. By saying them near the roof of your mouth, you can create new sounds that make words sound different.