When a voiceless consonant is next to a voiced one, voice assimilation can occur. Assimilation is a natural thing. For example, in the word “absent”, it is easier to pronounce the sound [p] than to pronounce the sound [b]. Assimilation then happens. The unvoiced consonant [s] affects the pronunciation of the voiced consonant [b]. The voiced consonant [b] loses its voice and is pronounced [p].